?EXTRACTION OF VANADIUM (IV) INTO SINGLE DROP OF DI (2-ETHYL HEXYL) PHOSPHORIC ACID

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the rate of extraction of the vanadyl ion, V02+ from sulphuric acid
medium. The commercial metal extractant, Di ( 2 -ethy hexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) dissolved in n-hexane
diluent was used in the study.The experimental technique was the single drop where the rate of metal extraction was
related to the interfacial area for mass transfer. The results showed that the rate of vanadium (IV) extraction was
proportional to the aqueous vanadium concentration and the organic concentration of D2EHPA. The rate was also
inversely proportional to the aqueous hydrogen ion concentration especially at low acidities. The extraction process
had a rate constant of 1.71x IO-4S"at 28°C with an activation energy of 38.75 KJ mole". The system appeared to be
controlled by mass transfer with simultaneous chemical reaction.