Separation and Recovery of Nickel and Zinc from Synthetic Wastewater Using Supported Liquid Membranes with in Situ Electrodeposition

Abstract

A new type of supported liquid membrane setup has been developed in this work. The setup consist of an in situ electrodeposition unit in strip phase which helps “stripped” nickel and zinc from synthetic wastewater get electrodeposited on the cathode surface. This type of separation technique not only helps to separate toxic heavy metals from wastewater but also yields an useful end product in the form of electroplated material. Two types of carrier, i.e., trioctyl amine and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid, have been used in the organic phase to separate zinc and nickel. The separation has been done individually as well as in a condition of binary pollutant in the feed phase. Various physicochemical parameters have been optimized to maximize the transport and deposition of metals on the cathode surface. Face-centered central composite designs in response to surface methodology have been performed on varied ratios of binary pollutant and their carriers in order to obtain optimum performance of the separati...