Synergistic separation of Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solution by D2EHPA and TBP dissolve in waste vegetable oil / Muhammad Sulaieman Alwi

Synergistic separation is studied as zinc and copper placed in different container is extract at same condition and the percent extraction is observed. The separation can be determined as at a condition, one metal ion is dominated while another metal ion is neglected. On the other condition, the metal ion is vice versa. This kind of metals are toxic if release to environment but having high value to industry. The usual solvents used by researchers are from petrochemical which very hazardous. By placing with waste vegetable oil, the solvent is greener and cost saving. This study also using waste vegetable oil as solvent. This study is required to identify the best condition on separation metals because the industrial waste water containing numbers of valuable metals which required in single element. The objective through the study is to determine the effect of different pH values on the extraction of Cu (II) and Zn (II) and determine the effect of different ratio of concentration of D2EHPA and TBP as organic phase on the extraction process. The process of separation of metal ion from aqueous solution is liquid-liquid extraction. The result showed that the synergistic by two extractants are low in percent extraction compared to single extractant. The ratio of D2EHPA and TBP at 1:2 showed the extraction of Zn (II) is the highest than other ratio but vice versa for Cu (II).