Extraction of Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) from aqueous hydrochloric acid with 1,3-diaminocalix[4]arene: switching of the extraction selectivity by using different extraction modes

Abstract

The extraction ability of 1,3-diaminocalix[4]arene (2: H2L) toward platinum group metals (PGMs) has been investigated, which revealed that2is able to extract Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) from hydrochloric acidviadifferent extraction modes. The extraction species for Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) are [PdL] and [Pt2Cl6(H3L)2], respectively, as evidenced by equilibrium analysis and X-ray crystallography. In [PdL], the two phenoxide oxygens and two amino nitrogens of L2−coordinate to the Pd ion. On the other hand, in [Pt2Cl6(H3L)2], two anionic trichloro complexes PtCl3−are sandwiched between two H3L+, in which one amino nitrogen directly coordinates to a PtCl3−species and another protonated amino group forms an ion pair with another PtCl3−. Utilizing the different extraction modes, switching of the extraction selectivity has been achieved in the competitive extraction between Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) by varying the concentrations of H+and Cl−in the aqueous phase. Finally, from the extracted organic phase, back-extraction of Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) was easily performed, respectively.