Improved copper(II) extraction from aqueous solutions using di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid and MIBK

In the present work, the synergistic extraction of copper(II) from sulfate media with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and methylisobutylkétone (MIBK) in chloroform at 25 °C, has been carried out. , with a focus on how pH, extractant concentration and diluent selection affect the extraction process. The extracted species in the organic phase have been found to be CuL2.2HL and CuL2. In the presence of MIBK, the extraction of copper by D2EHPA in the system chloroform-water (Na2SO4) showed that synergy effect increase with the concentration of the synergistic reagent. The results indicate that the synergistic effect is a result of the cooperative interactions between the D2EHPA /MIBK molecules, which improve phase stability, reduce metal-ion competition, and enhance the formation of metal-complexes. The potential for optimizing metal separation processes in hydrometallurgical operations, particularly for the recovery of rare and precious metals, is also highlighted in this paper, which compares the extraction performance of the D2EHPA-MIBK system to conventional single-agent extraction methods.