Utility of 1-octanol/octane mixed solvents for the solvent extraction of aluminum(III), gallium(III), and indium(III) with 8-quinolinol.

Using 1-octanol/octane mixed solvents, the extraction of aluminum(III), gallium(III) and indium(III) with 8-quinolinol was carried out at 25 degrees C. The formation constants of the respective metal(III) 8-quinolinolates in the aqueous phase and their partition constants between the mixed solvents and water were determined based on an analysis of the extraction equilibria. The relationship between the partition constants of 8-quinolinol and its complexes was analyzed by the regular solution theory. The molar volumes of aluminum(III), gallium(III) and indium(III) 8-quinolinolates, calculated from the present results, suggest that the electrostriction effect functions in complex forming. It has been found that octane/1-octanol mixed solvents were available not only for the extraction of metal ions, but also for determining the formation constants of these metal 8-quinolinolates in the aqueous phase and their partition constants.