Palm kernel fatty acid distillate-based bulk liquid membrane for Cu(II) separation: Design and its operating parameters

Abstract

This study focus on the development of palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFAD) based on a bulk liquid membrane (BLM) as a green membrane for the separation of Cu(II) from wastewater. PKFAD was used as a sole membrane solution without the addition of extractant and/or modifier, which reduced the consumption of hazardous chemicals and favoured the environment. The effects of design (number of stirrer blades and baffles) and operating (stirring speed, buffer solution concentration, and operating time) parameters on the simultaneous extraction and stripping of Cu(II) across PKFAD-based BLM, as well as its overall recovery were investigated to get optimal metal ions recovery. To examine the practical applicability, the selectivity of PKFAD-based BLM in separating Cu(II) was tested using electroplating industry wastewater. The results showed high percentages of extraction (93%), stripping (94%), recovery (87%), and enrichment factor (1.74) of Cu(II) using the best design (four stirrer blades and no baffles) and operating (stirring speed of 220 rpm, buffer solution concentration of 0.2 M, and operating time of 7 h) parameters of PKFAD-based BLM. The separation factor values of ≥1 for Cu(II) over the coexisting metal ions from actual electroplating wastewater have been accomplished with PKFAD-based BLM. Hence, PKFAD-based BLM is a potential BLM with a sole green membrane phase for separating Cu(II) selectively from wastewater.