Extraction of gallium from Bayer liquor using extractant produced from cashew nutshell liquid

• Oxime compounds of alkyl-salicylaldehyde was produced from cashew nutshell liquid.
• Ga from the Bayer process liquor was extracted by the synthesized.
• Optimal oxime composition was 12%, which extracted 80% of Ga.
• Potential Ga extraction by natural-based oxime to reduce economical cost and environmental footprint.

Oximes of alkyl salicylaldehydes were synthesized from cardanol extracted from cashew nutshell liquid with SnCl4 as a catalyst. Molecular structures, physical and chemical properties of these oximes were investigated by spectroscopic data. These oximes were used as gallium extractant from a concentrated Bayer liquor of Alumina Tanrai (Vietnam). Results indicated that about 80% of gallium was recovered. This study opens up new opportunities to employ an environmentally friendly extractant for recovery of precious metals from industrial waste.

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