LanthanumK - 6-7-2011 at 04:16
Theoretical situation: I have a solution of aluminium and cobalt hydroxides in sodium hydroxide solution. I want to separate them. I think that adding
sodium hypochlorite solution will oxidize the cobalt(II) to cobalt(III), precipitating cobalt(III) oxide and leaving the aluminate behind. Is there
anything wrong with this method?
barley81 - 6-7-2011 at 04:50
This sounds like a good idea to me, but then again I haven't tried it. I don't see any problems.
Here's my idea to do this:
You may try acidifying to neutral pH, then adding ammonia and shaking to dissolve oxygen. IIRC aluminum doesn't form a complex with ammonia, and
cobalt does. The cobalt ammine complex will oxidize to become cobalt (III), and aluminum hydroxide will precipitate (very little aluminate formed).
[Edited on 6-7-2011 by barley81]
LanthanumK - 6-7-2011 at 06:37
If the fact about cobalt forming an ammine complex is true, then other parts of my process is wrong. Thanks for enlightening me.