Phase equilibria and extraction of metal cations in the systems based on synergistic mixtures of potassium bis(alkylpolyoxyethylene)phosphate and alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride

Abstract

The solubility in the system formed by the oxyethylated anionic surfactant potassium bis(alkylpolyoxyethylene)phosphate (oxyphos B), the cationic surfactant alkyldimethylbenz- ylammonium chloride (cathamine AB), and water was studied. The optimal parameters of the extraction process in the systems based on the mixture of surfactants, whose aqueous solutions have the lowest phase-separation temperatures, without a salting-out agent and in the presence of (NH₄)₂SO₄ were established. A possibility of the extraction of metal cations in the oxyphos B—cathamine AB—water system at 50 °С, and the (NH₄)₂SO₄—oxyphos B—cathamine AB—water system at 25 °С was demonstrated. The advantages of application of a mixture of ionic surfactants as compared to the systems based on individual surfactants were revealed.