1992 Volume 18 Issue 6 Pages 928-934
Using newly synthesized surfactants, selective separation of copper and molybdenum with 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (PC-88A) as a carrier was carried out, using liquid surfactantmembranes (LSMs). The influence of surfactants and carrier concentration in the liquid membrane as well as conditions of internal and external aqueous phases on the separation were investigated. The selection of stripping reagents is the key factor in the above system. It was clarified that effective separation of copper and molybdenum can be done by using mannitol as a stripping reagent of an internal aqueous phase. The surfactant also strongly affected the extraction rate and concentration of molybdenum into the internal phase, new cationic surfactant gave the best results in separation and concentration of molybdenum. The extraction behavior of molybdenum by LSMs could be explained by an interfacial reaction model between the carrier and cationic species of molybdenum, taking into account the break-up of the emulsion. It is very important to use stable emulsions for high concentration of molybdenum.
