New Xanthic Acid Derivative as Selective Reagent for the Solvent Extraction of Palladium.
Trimethylene-bis(n-butyl)xanthate (TrMBnBX) has been synthesized as a new sulfur-containing reagent for the extraction of precious metal ions. This compound exhibited high selectivity for extraction of Pd(II) and Ag(I) ions in dichloroethane, over Pt(IV), Au(III) and most of the base metal ions. A mixed aqueous system containing H2SO4 in presence of small amount of chloride ions provides the maximum extraction of Pd(II), where it forms a 1:1 complex with TrMBnBX.