AbstractThe extraction of zinc chloride by Amberlite LA‐2, a long chain secondary alkylamine, dissolved in Shellsol K, a naphthenic solvent, has been studied at room temperature. Isodecanol was used as modifier. The aqueous phases were chloride solutions of Zn(II) and Fe(II) in the concentration range commonly encountered in pickling baths, viz. about 1 and 1.5 mol/l, respectively. The ionic strength was kept constant at 4 mol/l in all experiments. Measurement of the distribution equilibrium of zinc chloride was carried out over wide concentration ranges of amine, zinc chloride, free chloride and isodecanol. It was assumed that the zinc chloride was extracted according to the following reaction On the basis of this reaction, an easy to use model was developed to describe the extraction behaviour of Zn in typical pickling baths. Prediction and optimization of a solvent extraction plant performance under changing industrial feed conditions is then possible. This model takes account of the influence of isodecanol used as modifier.