Extraction of Cadmium from Aqueous Solutions by Emulsion Liquid Membranes using a Stirred Transfer Cell Contactor

C. BASUALTO; M. POBLETE; J. MARCHESE; A. OCHOA; A. ACOSTA; J. SAPAG; F. VALENZUELA

JOURNAL OF THE BRAZILIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Sociedade Brasileira de Quimica

Lugar: Brasil; Año: 2006 vol. 17 p. 1347 - 1354

0103-5053

It is studied the extraction of cadmium(II) ions from acidic aqueous solutions using a stirredtransfer cell-type emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) prepared by dissolving in kerosene, withD2EHPA (an alkylphosphoric acid) as mobile carrier and Span-80 as surfactant. The ELMallowed efficient metal transport from the feed solution to the stripping liquor in experimentscarried out at 25 ºC. The significant variables on cadmium transport through the membranewere extractant concentration and metal content in the feed metal-donor solution. Concentrationof HCl as stripping agent affected only the initial metal extraction rate but not the extractionextent. The surfactant content used in this study stabilized the membrane adequately, but theuse of a higher content produced a smaller initial extraction rate due to higher interfacialresistance. The experimental results suggest the possibility of recovering or removing valuableor toxic metals from dilute aqueous solution in an extractor based on emulsified liquidmembranes.