EXTRACTION OF COBALT AND/OR NICKEL FROM AN AQUEOUS FEED SOLUTION

摘要

A process for the selective separation of cobalt and/or nickel from aqueous acidic solutions is provided, and particularly a process for the selective separation of cobalt from aqueous solutions also comprising nickel. The process comprises contacting the feed solution under controlled pH conditions with an extractant comprising an amidobis(thiophosphoryl) compound of formula (1), wherein R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and R<4> each independently, represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxy group, or R<1> and R<2> and/or R<3> and R<4> together with the P atom, form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered heterocyclic ring.