Wulfhard Mickler

• Toxic heavy metals are extracted simultaneously by reactive liquid-liquid-extraction from a model landfill leachate. This is taken as an example to generate an unproblematic waste water. Alkylphosphoric acids (commercial D2EHPA and D2EHTPA), ß-diketones, 4-Acyl-5-pyrazolones and a novel commercial alkyl-methyl-phosphonic acid are used as extractants. By means of the functions E%=f (pH, t) and lg D=f (pH, cL) some thermodynamic parameters of the extraction are determined. In the case of the alkylthiophosphoric acid the thiophilic cations are extracted advantageously in contrast to chromium, magnesium or calcium. There is no significant separation between the heavy metals and the alkaline earth metals. The complexes are extracted with the composition ML(HL)n. According to their ligand force, the presence of complexing agents in the aqueous phase (for example cyanide, tartrate, ammonia or chloride) hinders the extraction. The influence of humic acid is comparable to that of tartaric acid. Because of the formation of less solubleToxic heavy metals are extracted simultaneously by reactive liquid-liquid-extraction from a model landfill leachate. This is taken as an example to generate an unproblematic waste water. Alkylphosphoric acids (commercial D2EHPA and D2EHTPA), ß-diketones, 4-Acyl-5-pyrazolones and a novel commercial alkyl-methyl-phosphonic acid are used as extractants. By means of the functions E%=f (pH, t) and lg D=f (pH, cL) some thermodynamic parameters of the extraction are determined. In the case of the alkylthiophosphoric acid the thiophilic cations are extracted advantageously in contrast to chromium, magnesium or calcium. There is no significant separation between the heavy metals and the alkaline earth metals. The complexes are extracted with the composition ML(HL)n. According to their ligand force, the presence of complexing agents in the aqueous phase (for example cyanide, tartrate, ammonia or chloride) hinders the extraction. The influence of humic acid is comparable to that of tartaric acid. Because of the formation of less soluble compounds, sulphate ions make the extraction of calcium more difficult. The extraction data points out that aromatic or chloric solvents are not advantageous in contrast to the non toxic aliphatic hydrocarbons. With the novel aminomethylphosphonic acid (ironex, BASF) the extraction of iron, indium and gallium is possible at a pH > 1.5 as ML2(HL) and ML(HL)2 resp. Copper and zinc were extracted quantitatively as 1:2 complexes only in a small pH-range between 4 to 6. Generally, the best results were found for the ß-diketones (LIX 54 included) and 4-acyl-5-pyrazolones. In these cases the toxic heavy metals could be separated quantitatively. Only 6% of calcium and 23% of magnesium are coextracted by the ligands. The extraction process can further be optimized by synergistic effects.…