Recent work has raised interest in the effect of different kinds of modifiers on the performance of hydroxyoxime extractants. Hydroxyoxime extractants are aldoxime, ketoxime or their blends. This study measured the effect of various modifiers on extraction performance including maximum copper loading, extraction and stripping isotherm points, Cu/Fe selectivity, and net copper transfer. The modifiers used in this study were TXIB (2,2,4Trimethy1-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate), TDA (Tridecanol), DBA(Dibutyl adipate) and NP(Nonylphenol). Results showed that the addition of the modifiers had a great influence on the extraction performance of the hydroxyoxime extractants, especially for the extraction and stripping isotherm points, the net copper transfer, and Cu/Fe selectivity. With the addition of the modifiers, the extraction and stripping isotherm points are decreased, The net copper transfer changes with varying degrees: for aldoxime, the net copper transfer increases significantly; for ketoxime, the net copper transfer decreases; and for various blends, the net copper transfer at first increases but as modifier concentration increases the net copper transfer of the blends decreases. The addition of modifiers also has an effect on the Cu/Fe selectivity: NP in the selected modifier is the only one that can decreases the Cu/Fe selectivity, while TDA, TXIB and DBA improve the Cu/Fe selectivity slightly.
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