The separation of cadmium from zinc with a synergistic mixture of nonylsalicylic acid and triisobutylphosphine sulphide

In a three-stage batch continuous extraction test, > 99% Cd and 0.4% Zn were extracted. The loaded organic solution contained 3.87 g/L Cd and only 12 ppm Zn. In a two-stage batch continuous scrubbing test, all the co-extracted Zn was removed with the scrubbed organic containing < 1 ppm Zn. Nearly 99% of cadmium was stripped in two batch contacts with 20 g/L sulphuric acid. Excellent separation of Cd and Zn can be achieved in three stages of extraction, two stages of scrubbing and two stage of stripping with this synergistic SX system.