Copper is preferentially extracted from iron in an aqueous feedstock solution containing dissolved copper and iron values by contacting the feedstock solution with a water-immiscible organic solution comprised of a hydrocarbon solvent and a compound of the formula I
wherein R5 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, a C7-22 aralkyl group, a halogen, OH or —OR6 wherein R6 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, a C7-22 aralkyl group; R1 is hydrogen, or a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group or a C7-22 aralkyl group; R2-R4 is hydrogen, halogen, a linear or branched C6-12 alkyl group, —OR6 wherein R6 is a C1-22 linear or branched alkyl group, a C2-22 linear or branched alkenyl group, a C6 aryl group, or a C7-22 aralkyl group to form an aqueous phase comprised of iron and an organic phase comprised of the hydrocarbon solvent and a copper-extractant complex wherein the copper-extractant complex is soluble in the hydrocarbon solvent. The R2-R5 groups are chosen so that the copper-extractant complex is soluble in the hydrocarbon solvent. After the extraction stage is completed and the organic and aqueous phases separate, the organic phase is substantially free of iron and/or an iron-extractant complex.
在含有溶解
铜和
铁价值的
水性原料溶液中,通过将原料溶液与一个由烃溶剂和公式I的化合物组成的不溶于
水的有机溶液接触,可以优先从
铁中提取
铜。在公式I中,R5是C1-22线性或支链烷基,C2-22线性或支链烯基,C6芳基,C7-22芳基烷基,卤素,OH或-OR6,其中R6是C1-22线性或支链烷基,C2-22线性或支链烯基,C6芳基,C7-22芳基烷基;R1是氢,或C1-22线性或支链烷基或烯基,C6芳基或C7-22芳基烷基;R2-R4是氢,卤素,线性或支链C6-12烷基,-OR6,其中R6是C1-22线性或支链烷基,C2-22线性或支链烯基,C6芳基或C7-22芳基烷基,以形成由
铁组成的
水相和由烃溶剂和
铜萃取剂复合物组成的有机相,其中
铜萃取剂复合物在烃溶剂中可溶。R2-R5基团被选择为
铜萃取剂复合物在烃溶剂中可溶。在萃取阶段完成并且有机相和
水相分离后,有机相基本上不含
铁和/或
铁萃取剂复合物。