Mercury(II) ions transport from aqueous solutions using liquid membrane systems

Abstract

The transport behavior of Hg2+ from donor aqueous solution into a receiving aqueous solution through bulk and supported liquid membranes containing a calix[4]arene derivative 1 as a carrier was investigated. The kinetic parameters of bulk liquid membrane were analyzed assuming two consecutive, irreversible first-order reactions. The influence of temperature, stirring rate, carrier concentration and solvent on the kinetic parameters (k1, k2, Rmmax, tmax, Jdmax, Jamax) has also been investigated. The activation energy values are calculated as 13.4 and 1.41 kcal mol-1 for extraction and reextraction, respectively. The activation energy values indicate that the process is diffusionally controlled by species. In addition, the transport behavior of Hg2+ from aqueous solution through a flat-sheet supported liquid membrane has been investigated by the use of calix[4]arene derivative 1 as carrier and Celgard 2500 as the solid support. A Danesi mass transfer model was used to calculate the permeability coefficients for each parameter (type of solvent and anion).