Extraction of Ca2+ from dodecane using 1-bu tyl-3-methylimidazolium octylsulfate

The used of volatile organic solvent in extraction of metal ion industry gives a
detrimental impact to our environment and human health. This is due to the loss of
organic diluents to environment via volatilization. Ionic liquids are currently being
studied by many researchers as alternative solvent or alternative extracting agent for
metal ions to replace the traditional volatile organic solvent. This is due to the
uniqueness of the physical and chemical properties of ionic liquids such as a wide
liquidus range, nonflammable and nonvolatile compound. In this study, an attempt was
made to investigate the potential of l-butyl-3methylimidazolium octylsulfate
[BMIM)[OCS] as extracting agent for Ca2
+ from model oil, i.e. dodecane. Two factors
affecting extraction of Ca2
+ from dodecane using [BMIM)[OCS] were studied: contact
time of the mixture (between [BMIM)[OCS] and dodecane containing Ca2+) and loading
od ionic liquids (different mass ratio of [BMIM][OCS] and dodecane containing Ca2+).
Mass ratio of I: I 0 between [BMIM][OCS] and dodecane containing Ca2
+ showed the
highest efficiency of extraction which is 99.35% with 5 minutes of extraction process.
These results indicate that use of ionic liquids as alternative to traditional extraction
agents in liquid/liquid extraction of heavy metal ions is very promising.