Abstract
A novel technique for separating and concentrating metals with liquid surfactant membranes containing a mobile carrier has recently attracted practical interest through nuclear, hydrometallurgical and waste-water treating processes. In this work, to obtain the basic information for development of a novel separation technique, the extraction of copper was carried out using liquid surfactant membranes containing benzoylacetone as a mobile carrier. The effects of the processes of chelating complex formation and diffusion on extraction rate were examined experimentally and theoretically on the basis of a simple model for facilitated transport. The experimental results could be explained approximately by considering that the overall extraction rates of copper were controlled by the chelating complex formation and diffusion processes in the aqueous phase close to the interface of the liquid membrane.
