PROCESSO PARA A PREPARACAO DE UMA COMPOSICAO COMPREENDENDO COMPOSTOS MACROCICLICOS PARA A COORDENACAO COM METAIS

摘要

A composition comprising a chelating compound which is a macrocyclic compound containing at least two coordinating centres in the ring, at least one of which is a neutral base moiety, and an organic acid containing at least one akyl or alkenyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms. The macrocyclic compound contains at least 10 ring atoms and especially at least 12 ring atoms. The neutral base moitey is typically a nitrogen moiety. Preferably there are at least four coordinating centres at least two of which are neutral base moieties. The acid can be an alkyl or alkenyl substituted acid for example a long chain carboxylic acid. The composition can be used as an extractant system for the selective extraction of metals from an aqueous phase into an organic phase.