Degradation of Lix984N and its effect on interfacial emulsion

Abstract

The organic phase separated from the interfacial crud provided by Dexing copper mine in Jiangxi, China, was analyzed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results show that many kinds of emphiphiles containing such hydrophilic groups as carbonyl, carboxyl, sulphonyl or acylamine exist in organic phase. Conclusively, Lix984N would degrade gradually during a long-term contact with the acidic aqueous feed and strip reagents. Lix84 and nonylphenol as effective components of Lix984N degraded almost completely after long-term recycling. Lix984N degraded through such reactions as Beckmann rearrange, hydrolysis and sulphofication. The degradation of Lix984N would deteriorate solvent extraction and disengagement performance, and result in a more stable interfacial emulsion.

Keywords

interfacial emulsion / degradation / Lix984N / copper solvent extraction