Kinetic and equilibrium studies of the removal of cadmium ions from acidic chloride solutions by hydrophobic pyridinecarboxamide extractants.

Liquid-liquid extraction of cadmium(II) from acidic chloride solutions was carried out with alkyl derivatives of pyridinecarboxamide in toluene with addition of 2-ethylhexan-1-ol as modifier. Equilibrium as well as kinetic studies was performed. The kinetic studies of a Cd(II) extraction process were carried out with a Lewis cell having a constant interfacial area. Cadmium(II) concentration in the aqueous phases was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Varian SPECTR AA800). The results of equilibrium experiments showed that cadmium(II) was quantitatively extracted with N,N-dihexylpyridine-3-carboxamide whereas the derivative N,N-dihexylpyridine-2-carboxamide was not able to transfer Cd(II) ions from the aqueous phase to the organic one. Thus, the kinetics of extraction and the initial extraction rate were examined only in the systems with N,N-dihexylpyridine-3-carboxamide. The obtained experimental data as well as the calculated values of mass transfer coefficients suggest that the investigated process of extraction of Cd(II) by means of pyridinecarboxamide as extractant occurs in the mixed diffusion-kinetic region. Moreover, the results of adsorption studies indicated that the extraction of Cd(II) with a hydrophobic extractant should be considered as an interfacial process.