Abstract
A separation technique utilizing nonionic microemulsions as emulsion liquid membranes has been successfully applied to the removal of copper ion from both buffered and unbuffered aqueous feed. The reversible phase behavior of the microemulsion was utilized to demulsify the liquid membrane phase and recover the copper ion via a temperature change of approximately 40°C. Material balances closed to within 15%. Benzoylacetone posed no special problems when employed as a complexing reagent in buffered media but was not effective for copper removal from unbuffered solution. LIX 860 was found to be effective in unbuffered media if it was present in concentrations equal to or greater than the stabilizing surfactant.