Perfluorinated oxygen-and sulfur-containing compounds as extractants for gold(III)

Abstract

A series of highly fluorinated compounds of the type {CF 3(CF 2) 5CH 2CH 2} 3P=O, [{CF 3(CF 2) 5CH 2CH 2} 2P(E) CH 2CH 2 P(E){CH 2 CH 2 (CF 2) 5 CF 3}] and {CF 3(CF 2) 5CH 2CH 2} 2C=E (E = O or S) have been examined for their ability to extract gold(III) from aqueous solutions. The phosphine oxides have been studied under liquid-liquid extraction conditions from water into perfluorohexane and found to give poor distribution ratios. The bidentate phosphine oxide, ketone and thioketone were studied under solid-liquid extraction conditions and were substantially better with extraction of up to 80% of Au(III). In addition, the crystal structure of {CF 3(CF 2) 5CH 2CH 2} 3P=O has been determined. © The Author(s) 2011. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com.