Abstract
Solvent extraction of Ga(III) from hydrochloric acid solution using CYANEX 921 in sulfonated kerosene as a modified diluent has been discussed. The factors affecting the extraction of gallium have been investigated. The sulfonation of kerosene was found to enhance the separation of gallium from the interfering ions and was examined using IR spectroscopy. The process was found to be exothermic with decrease in the randomness of the system and the extracted species was suggested to be , where refers to the CYANEX 921. The developed method was applied for the separation of Ga(III) from copper and zinc in chloride solution that result during production of Ga-66/68 from the cyclotron.