ABSTRACT
Extraction of lithium (Li+) from synthetically prepared sea bittern using di-2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) as organic extractants has been studied. The equilibrium studies conducted show synergistic effect between D2EHPA and TBP. The equilibrium constant values for Li+, Na+ and K+ ions were found to be 95.4 × 10−5 m3/kmol, 4.6 × 10−5 m3/kmol and 3.69 × 10−5 m3/kmol, respectively. Hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (SLM) experiments with low concentrations of Li+, Na+ and K+ ions in feed phase showed high flux for Li+ ions. However, at significantly high concentrations of Na+ and K+ in the feed phase, the flux of Li+ ions reduced. The model predictions were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
Funding
The author Ajay D. Sharma would like to thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for their financial support by providing fellowship under DST-INSPIRE scheme. The authors would like to thank DST for providing financial assistance to research work through DST project (DST No.: SR/S3/CE/048/2012).