Extraction of cadmium and iodocadmat species by di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid from perchloric and phosphoric media

We have investigated the extraction of cadmium with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in various solvents from perchloric and phosphoric solutions. The distribution coefficient D obtained is not very dependent on the nature and the polarity of the diluent used. The extraction of Cd(II) by HDEHP dissolved in benzene, from sulfophosphoric solutions shows the absence of sulfuric or mixed sulfophosphoric complexes of the metal. However, the presence of iodide anions in aqueous perchloric or phosphoric media results in enhanced extraction coefficient of cadmium with HDEHP (HX) in benzene. The extracted species were found to be CdIX,3(HX)₂ and CdI₂,3(HX)₂ and their formation constants are 0.033 and 0.036, respectively. The recovery of cadmium from phosphoric medium by tributylphosphate (TBP), trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), diphenylamine or their mixtures with HDEHP is lesser than with HDEHP alone.