Sodium phenyldithiocarbamate and sodium cyclohexyldithiocarbamate ligands’ extractive abilities of heavy metals from aqueous media at metal-ligand ratio of 1:1

Abstract

Dithiocarbamate ligands are known to readily form chelates with all transition metal ions through its two donor sulphur atoms. In this research, two derivatives of dithiocarbamate ligands (sodium phenyldithiocarbamate and sodium cyclohexyldithiocarbamate) were used to extract metal (Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb) ions with initial concentration of the metals kept at 5.0 ppm. The analyses were performed in five different pH to observe its effect on heavy metal extraction. Metals and ligands were dissolved in the same solvent (ethanol for Fe, Cu and Zn; and dimethylsulphoxide for Pb) and ligand-metal ratio of 1:1 used in the experiment. The ligands showed metal extractive abilities. It was observed that highest percentage metal extractive abilities were at the same pH value (11.0) for all the metals except for Cu which was at pH 3.0 for sodium phenyldithiocarbamate ligand. Even though both ligands were effective in metal extraction, sodium phenyldithiocarbamate ligand showed better percentage extractive abilities. Statistical analysis carried out on the data generated showed significant difference in the extraction of copper and iron by both ligands.