Studies of the chemical properties of tri-n-octylamine–secondary octanol–kerosene–HCl–H2O microemulsions and its extraction characteristics for cadmium(II)

A new microemulsion system is formed by acidification of tri-n-octylamine–secondary octanol–kerosene with HCl. The system is characterized by conductivity measurement, coloring, dilution, infrared spectroscopy and Tyndall effect. The corresponding results show that the microemulsion is oil-continuous (w/o). The phase diagram is also constructed. Conductivities, viscosities, index of refraction, and densities of the microemulsions system are determined. The activation energy (ΔE) is determined at different temperatures, and implies that a bicontinuous structure zone is not found in the investigated system. Additionally, extraction of cadmium(II) ions by this microemulsion system is also investigated. The corresponding optimum extraction conditions are obtained.