Separation of copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) from chloride solutions by polymer inclusion membranes

Abstract

The separation of copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) from aqueous chloride solutions by polymer inclusion membranes is presented. The tertiary amines, i.e. tri- n-octylamine (TOA) and triisooctylamine (TIOA) have been applied as the ion carriers in membrane. The source phase was an aqueous HCl solution containing Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II). The selective transport of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous chloride source phase through PIM containing cellulose triacatate (CTA) as the support, o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether (ONPPE) as the plasticizer and amines (TOA and TIOA) has been studied. Cu(II) and Co(II) ions were effectively removed from the source phase by transport through PIMs with TOA and TIOA as the ionic carriers into 0.1 M NaOH as the receiving phase. The initial fluxes of Cu(II) and Co(II) were higher with TIOA than with TOA. Ni(II) was not detected in the receiving phase. The effect of chloride ions concentration on the transport of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) has been investigated. Transport of Cu(II) and Co(II) increases with increasing of chloride ions concentration in the source phase. The metal ions fluxes decrease in the order Cu(II) > Co(II) > Ni(II).