Abstract
Transfer and extraction of metallic species (Ag+
and Cu2+ ions) through a flat sheet dense supported-liquid-membrane
was investigated previously [1, 2] using thin sheets of polybutadiene rubber cross-linked
with 0.1% and/or 0.4% of dicumylperoxyde at 160°C for 15 minutes noted BR1
and for 5 minutes noted BR2 [3].
In this work, column filled with a
liquid-membrane-gel LMG in form of beads impregnated beforehand with the
solvating organo-phosphoric carrier the trioctyl phosphine oxide TOPO, was used
to study the extraction-concentration-recovery and the transport of Cu (II) and
Zn (II) from an aqueous solution. Extraction of Cu (II) at different pH aqueous solutions has been
described. The speciation of the extracted complexes in the membrane supported
organic phase (extractant) was also, performed using the theoretically derived
equations to elucidate the stoichiometry and the Cu (II) mechanism complexation
through the liquid-membrane-gel LMG. Kinetic parameters were calculated from
the experimental data. About 86-97% and 50-82% of
respectively copper and zinc, were extracted from aqueous solutions at pH = 6
according to first-order kinetics and the separation factor
away from the unit. The solvated copper species
by TOPO are of the type [Cu(NO3)2]TOPO.