Trident molecules containing pyridyl groups have been prepared for use as novel extraction reagents to investigate their physicochemical properties for dissolution into the aqueous phase and their ability, together with their corresponding monomeric analogues, to extract precious metal ions. Differences in their behavior were related to the pK a values of the trident molecules and the position of the nitrogen atom in the pyridyl groups. The trident molecules exhibit the ability to selectively extract silver from mixtures of other precious metals. The extraction mechanism and the coordination site of the silver ion with a 2-pyridyl derivative were determined by slope analysis and peak shift of the 1 H-NMR spectra of the extraction reagent before and after silver loading.
INTRODUCTIONThe solvent extraction technique has been extensively studied for the separation of precious metals from recycled e-wastes (1). Although processes for the separation of precious metal ions by the company such as INCO (Vale-Inco) have been well established (2,3), these methods are still ineffective and incomplete for mutual separation, especially for the selective recovery of valuable and functionally inert rhodium. The extraction mechanisms for precious metals are classified into two categories: anionic exchange and ion-pair extraction with coordination. Amine or pyridyltype ligands can facilitate the extraction by either mechanism due to their coordination and protonation properties (4-6). Many factors, such as donor properties based on HSAB theory (7), the chelate effect, interfacial activity, and the hydrophobic character of the extraction reagents, can affect the extraction behavior of precious metals.