Selective and Efficient Liquid Membrane Transport of Thallium (III) Ion by Potassium‐dicyclohexyl‐18‐crown‐6 as Specific Carrier

Abstract

Potassium‐dicyclohexyl‐18‐crown‐6 was used as a selective and efficient carrier for the uphill transport of thallium (III) ion as [TlCl₄]⁻ complex ion through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane. By using oxalate anion as a metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase, the amount of thallium (III) transported across the liquid membrane after 120 min was 96±2%. The selectivity and efficiencies of thallium transport from aqueous solutions containing Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Co³⁺, Mn²⁺ _, Cr³⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions were investigated. In the presence of Na₃PO₄ (0.01 M) at pH=3 as a suitable precipitation agent in the source phase, the interfering effect of Pb²⁺ ion were diminished drastically.

Keywords:

• Potassium‐dicyclohexyl‐18‐crown‐6
• bulk liquid membrane
• thallium (III) ion
• oxalate