Selective transport of metal ions using polymer inclusion membranes containing crown ethers and cryptands

Abstract EN

The polymer inclusion membranes used for the selective transport and separation of metal species has emerged in recent years.

Their development depends on the method of preparation and the study of their intimate structure.

In this work, a development of a novel class of membrane for performing cation separation is reported.

The membrane is polymerized from cellulose triacetate (CTA) with crown ethers and crypt and incorporated into the polymer as a metal ion carrier.

The contribution of several independent factors to overall cation transport is described.

The transport of silver and copper ions in two different membrane systems (Supported Liquid Membrane SLM and Polymer Inclusion Membrane PIM) using macrocytic polyether's as carrier and 2-nitro-phenyl-octyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizer has been investigated.

The membranes CTA–NPOE–Carrier were synthesized and characterized using chemical techniques as well as FTIR, X-Ray Diffraction, and Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA).

A comparative study of the transport mechanism across such a membrane and a supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing the same carrier in 2- nitro-phenyl-octyl ether (NPOE) has been made.