Separation of Gold(Ⅲ) by Extraction with the System of NaCl-KI-Propanol

Optimum conditions for the extraction of auric ion as anionic complex AuI-4 into propanol in the presence of sodium chloride were studied.It was found that quantitative separation of Au(Ⅲ) was achieved from a solution of pH 3.5,and containing 0.3 g of KI,200 g of NaCl and 300 mL of propanol in 1 L of solution.As a total volume of 10 mL (aqueous phase) was taken in the extraction process,3 mg of KI,2 g of NaCl and 3 mL of propanol were added.As shown by the experimental results,50 μg of Au(Ⅲ) was separated from 1 mg of Fe(Ⅱ),Ni(Ⅱ),Mn(Ⅱ),Al(Ⅲ),Zn(Ⅱ),Co(Ⅱ) and Ga(Ⅲ),with values of extraction rate of Au(Ⅲ) over 99.7%.