Synthesis and Properties of Sulfur-Containing Organophosphorus Extractants Based on Red Phosphorus, Alkyl Bromides, and Elemental Sulfur

Abstract

In order to obtain sulfur-containing organophosphorus compounds that are promising as extractants of heavy metals, the interaction of elemental phosphorus and sulfur with alkyl bromides catalyzed using strong bases was studied. According to the task, the reaction of non-toxic and non-flammable red phosphorus with alkyl bromides under conditions of phase transfer catalysts (PTC), followed by the introduction of elemental sulfur into the reaction medium, were studied. It is shown that alkyl bromides interact with red phosphorus when heated (95–105 °C, 5–8 h) under conditions of phase transfer catalysts (PTC) in a two-phase system: a 60% aqueous solution of KOH-toluene-benzyltriethylammonium chloride (BTEAC) forming a mixture of organophosphorus compounds along with alkylphosphines (57–60%), are the main reaction products; alkylphosphine oxides are also formed (40–43%). The introduction of elemental sulfur (solution in toluene) at the final stage of the process into the reaction mass cooled to 40–60 °C leads to the expected alkylphosphine sulfides, which are the result of the interaction of alkylphosphines with sulfur. The formation of complex mixtures of products prevents the release of target alkylphosphine sulfides in individual form. However, the synthesized mixture of alkylphosphine sulfides and alkylphosphine oxides without separation into individual components is promising for studying its extraction properties in relation to heavy metals. Testing of the extraction properties of synthesized mixtures of alkylphosphine sulfides and alkylphosphine oxides in relation to heavy metals (Ni, Co, Zn, Pb) and noble metals (Ag) showed that the resulting mixtures of tertiary phosphine oxides and phosphine sulfides are highly effective extractants. The degree of extraction in relation to Ni, Co, Zn, and Pb varies from 99.90 to 99.99%, and for Ag from 99.56 to 99.59%.