Solvent extraction and separation of gallium, indium and thallium with N-benzylaniline

A simple and rapid method is proposed for the separation of tervalent gallium, indium and thallium by solvent extraction with N-benzylaniline in chloroform from different concentrations of hydrochloric acid. Thallium and gallium are extracted from 1M and 7.0-7.5M hydrochloric acid respectively. Indium is finally extracted from hydriodic acid. These metals in the final extracts are determined complexometrically. Interference from some cations can easily be eliminated by reduction with sulphite, followed by selective oxidation of thallium(I) to thallium(III) with saturated bromine water, and from others by the use of thioglycollic acid as a masking agent in the extraction of gallium and indium. Most common anions cause no interference. Log-log plots of distribution coefficients vs. concentration of amine for gallium, indium and thallium indicate a 2:1 limiting mole ratio of amine to these metals.