Effect of diluent on interfacial emulsion in copper solvent extraction
(Department of Mineral Engineering, Central South University of Technology, Changsha 410083,P.R. China)
Abstract: The organic phase extracted from interfacial crud of copper solvent extraction at Dexing Copper Mine was analyzed for its different components by combined gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. It was found that the main impurities in organic phase were methylnaphthalenes and di methylnaphthalenes which originated from commercial 260# kerosene used as diluent. It was found that the impurities containing diluent was unfavorable to phase disengagement. Methods were suggested to improve diluent properties to prevent stable interfacial emulsion.
Key words: organic phase components； diluent； surface tension； interfacial emulsion； copper solvent extraction