Transport of Chromium(VI) through a Supported Liquid Membrane Containing Tri-n-octylphosphine Oxide

ABSTRACT

In this study the transport of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions of pH 2–4 through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) dissolved in kerosene as a mobile carrier was investigated. The transport flux of Cr(VI) increased with an increase in the concentrations of Cr(VI) in the feed phase and of TOPO in the membrane phase, but with a decrease in pH of the feed phase. Considering the equilibria of various Cr(VI) species in the aqueous phase and of the Cr(VI)—TOPO complexes formed in the membrane phase, a permeation model including the aqueous film diffusion of HCrO₄ ⁻ and Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ toward the membrane, the interfacial chemical reaction between them and TOPO, and the membrane diffusion of the Cr(VI)—TOPO complexes (H₂CrO₄(TOPO) and H₂Cr₂O₇(TOPO)₃) was proposed to describe the transport of Cr(VI) through the SLM. By best fitting the transport flux equations of Cr(VI) with the experimental data using the Rosenbrock method, the apparent mass-transfer coefficients of HCrO₄ ⁻ and Cr₂O_7^. across the aqueous film, and those of H₂CrO₄(TOPO) and H₂Cr₂O₇(TOPO)₃ across the membrane phase, were obtained. This work helps to clarify the transport mechanism of Cr(VI) through an SLM.