Tahereh Hosseini - School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Fereshteh Rashchi - School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Ehsan Vahidi - School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Navid Mostoufi - School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Synergistic effect of Cyanex 302 on extraction of zinc and manganese with D2EHPA in sulfate media was investigated. Experiments were carried out in the pH range of 1.0–5.0, temperature of 23, 40 and 60 °C with sole D2EHPA and Cyanex 302 as extractant and D2EHPA to Cyanex 302 ratios of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1. The experimental results showed that the co-extraction of zinc and manganese increased with increasing equilibrium pH and temperature. Increasing the D2EHPA to Cyanex 302 ratio in the organic phase, caused a left shifting of extraction isotherm of zinc and right shifting of extraction isotherm of manganese. Thus, a better separation of zinc over manganese was achieved. At low pHs, separation factor is low when pure D2EHPA is used as extractant, however, using Cyanex 302 as synergist, separation factor increases and results in a better separation of zinc from manganese.

Synergistic effect, D2EHPA, Cyanex 302, extraction isotherm, separation factor