Ce(III) recovery by supported liquid membrane using polyethylene hollow fiber prepared via thermally induced phase separation

Abstract

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) hollow fiber membranes were prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The pore size at the outer surface was quite smaller than that at the inner surface and the membrane structure was asymmetric. A membrane module was prepared by the obtained hollow fiber membranes. Experiments on the carrier-mediated transport of Ce(III) through supported liquid membranes (SLMs) were performed using the membrane module. The SLMs consisted of organic solutions of octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (CMPO) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) in dodecane absorbed into the microporous HDPE hollow fiber membrane. Effect of the aqueous strip solution flow rate on the membrane performance was investigated.