A Reaction Flux Model for Extraction of Cu(II) with LIX84I in HFSLM

Abstract

Hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) is a favorable method to extract both valuable compounds and heavy metal pollutants such as chromium, copper, and nickel at a very low concentration. In this work, the extraction of Cu(II) by LIX84I dissolved in kerosene was theoretically and experimentally investigated. A model to estimate the percentage of extraction of copper ions from synthetic water considering the effect of reaction flux in membrane phase of the HFSLM system was studied. H₂SO₄ solution was used as the stripping solution. The facilitated transport mechanism of the chemical reaction at the feed-membrane interface was taken into account in the model equations. The percentage of copper ion extraction was plotted against its initial concentration in feed and also feed flow rate. Subsequently, the separation time and separation cycle were determined in accordance with the simulated values of copper ion concentration and the feed flow rate from the model. The modeled results were in good agreement with the experimental data at the average percentage of deviation about 2%.

Keywords:

• copper ion
• extraction
• flux
• hollow fiber
• mass transfer
• modeling

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are very grateful to the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program (Grant No. PHD/0272/2549) which is supported by the Thailand Research Fund and Chulalongkorn University, Thai Oil Public Co., Ltd., and the Separation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. The authors would also like to express sincere appreciation to I. Kasemsestha, S. Chaturabul, and P. Wannachod for their kind support.