Selective transport of Cu(II) ions from a mixture of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) cations through a bulk liquid membrane using benzyl bis(thiosemicarbazone) as carrier

Abstract

A dichloromethane membrane system incorporated with benzyl bis(thiosemicarbazone) (LH2) as carrier is introduced for the selective transport of Cu(II) ion from an aqueous source solution containing Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) metal cations to a receiving aqueous phase. The optimum transport conditions were established by studding the composition of receiving phase, time of transport, stirring rate, pH of source phase, presence of fatty acid in the membrane as a phase modifier, type and concentration of surfactant, and concentration of mineral acid in the receiving phase, carrier concentration, and temperature. A kinetic model was also used to describe the Cu(II) ion transport behavior, assuming that it obeys the kinetic laws of two consecutive irreversible first-order processes. Under the optimal conditions, 43% of the initial concentration of Cu(II) ion from the aqueous source phase was extracted into the receiving phase through the bulk liquid membrane.