Separation of Au(III) from other precious and base metals using 1-methoxy-2-octoxybenzene in acidic chloride media

Ethereal compounds act as good extractants for Au(HI) from hydrochloric-acid media. We developed a novel aromatic ethereal compound 1-methoxy-2-octoxybenzene (o-MOB) as an extractant for Au(III). Au(III) extraction using o-MOB in hydrochloric-acid media reached equilibrium rapidly within 10 min. Of a series of ethereal extractants, including positional isomers, o-MOB showed the highest extractability for Au(III). Additionally, o-MOB showed a higher extractability for Au(III) than a commercially available extractant, dibutyl carbitol, under diluted conditions. Au(III) was extracted selectively using o-MOB over other precious- and base-metal ions in 0.1-1.0 M HCI. Au(III) that was extracted by using o-MOB was stripped quantitatively using hydrochloric-acid solution that contained thiourea.