Multifunctional effect of the polymer extractant thiomethylbenzoxazoyl-α-methylstyrene on the extraction of Au(III)

In this study, we synthesized a polymer extractant and its monomer analogue, and the multifunctional effect was investigated by comparing their extraction behavior for Au(III). To increase the affinity for gold ions, we introduced a sulfur atom into the molecular structure of the extractant as a soft donor. The extraction ability of the new extractants for gold ions was influenced by the HCl concentration in the aqueous feed solution. The multifunctional effect appeared when using the polymer extractant in the liquid–liquid extraction of gold ions. Selectivity of the extractants toward Au(III) was evaluated using a model solution generated from leaching of waste cellphones. Selectivity for Au(III) was found to be enhanced by the multifunctional effect of the polymer extractant.