Synergistic Solvent Extraction and Transport of Zn(II) and Cu(II) across Polymer Inclusion Membranes with a Mixture of TOPO and Aliquat 336

Separation of zinc(II) and copper(II) ions from aqueous solutions by synergistic extraction and transport through polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) has been investigated. A mixture of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and trioctymethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) was used as a selective extractant as well as an ion carrier in polymer membranes. The effects of hydrochloric acid concentration in the aqueous phase and extractants concentration in the organic phase on the separation process of zinc(II) and copper(II) ions have been studied. Zn(II) ions were successfully separated from Cu(II) ions in solvent extraction process using 0.025 M TOPO and 0.06 M Aliquat 336 in kerosene. Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing a mixture of TOPO and Aliquat 336 as the ion carrier have been prepared and the facilitated transport of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ions has been studied. The influence of membrane composition on the transport kinetic of Zn(II) and Cu(II) has been evaluated. Zn(II) ions were preferably transported from the aqueous solutions containing Cu(II) and above 87% of Zn(II) ions were effectively recovered from the 0.5 M HCl solution as the source phase through PIM into 0.5 M H2SO4 as the stripping phase.