Homogeneous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Metal-1,10-Phenanthroline Chelates in a Weak Acidic Solution

We studied phase separation in a weak acidic solution by homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction. Using acetone as a water-soluble organic solvent, 1,10-phenanthroline as a chelate-forming agent, and Zonyl FSA as a phase-separating agent, we developed a phase-separating method for 14 kinds of elements, such as Al, Cu, and Ti, in a weak acid (around pH 2). With the addition of 1 ml of 50 v/v% Zonyl FSA, the volume of the segregating phase was 100 mu l. The recovery rate of each element by this method was 95% or more, demonstrating that various types of chelate-forming agents can be used in homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction in a weak acid and that this method could be applied in a Aide range of practical fields.