Solvent Extraction of Molybdenum from Hydrochloric Acid Solutions with Tri-Octyl Phosphine Oxide: Comparison between Conventional and Microwave-Assisted Extraction Techniques

Abstract

In this paper, the solvent extraction of molybdenum from 0.01-1 M aqueous hydrochloric acidusing tri-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) as solvent diluted with n-hexane has been investigated. The extraction efficiencies of TOPO inthe extraction of molybdenum werecarried out using conventional extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) techniques.Molybdenum extraction efficiency wasdetermined by varying separately the different parameters affecting the extraction process including agitationtime, hydrochloric acid concentration, solventconcentration (in the organic phase), as well as the irradiation time and microwave power.The MAE technique greatly enhanced the solvent extraction of molybdenum where high extraction percentageswere obtained under favorable conditions. In some cases, thepercentages extraction of molybdenum obtained with two methods were comparable.The use of MAE technique also showed obvious advantages in terms of a drastic reduction of the extraction time as it was shortened from 15 min to 10 s in comparison with conventional solvent extraction method.