Process for liquid-liquid extraction of cobalt

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for separating cobalt from nickel in an aqueous acid solution containing the above metals which comprises, contacting said solution with an organic phase comprising (a) 65- 98% by volume of a concentrated alpha-hydroxyoxime extractant, a 1% by volume solution of which in xylene has per liter a maximum loading capacity of about 0,864 g. of copper, and (b) 2-35% by volume of an organophosphoric acid of the general formula:, wherein R1 represents an alkyl aryl or aralkyl radical, while maintaining the pH of said solution between 1 and 6 whereby cobalt is extracted from the aqueous phase to the organic phase and separating the resultant cobalt pregnant organic phase from the aqueous …