ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Application of 2-(octylsulphanyl)benzoic acid as Pb²⁺ selective ionophore in hybrid membrane system

Andrzej Oberta, Janusz Wasilewski, Marek Świątkowski, and Romuald Wódzki

Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Gagarin str. 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland

E-mail: oberta@doktorant.umk.pl

Abstract: A solution of 2-(octylsulphanyl)benzoic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane was used as a liquid membrane for selective pertraction of Pb²⁺ cations. Transport processes were carried out in a multi-membrane hybrid system (MHS) consisting of two cation-exchange membranes (CEM) and a flowing liquid membrane (FLM) in the following order: CEM | FLM | CEM. The liquid membrane phase was dehydrated continuously using a pervaporation method (PV). The system was capable of transporting Pb²⁺ ions selectively from a multi-cation aqueous solution composed of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Pb²⁺ nitrates. A comparative study of the carrier efficiency under various feed pH conditions was performed. It was found that the carrier exhibited sufficient selectivity and transport efficiency under a broad range of operational conditions, with a maximum transport rate of Pb²⁺ ions attaining the value of (1.09 ± 0.03) × 10⁻¹⁰ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ and the selectivity coefficient of up to 40.

Keywords: pertraction – lead – multi-membrane hybrid system – pervaporation – 2-(octylsulphanyl)benzoic acid

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-011-0101-7

Chemical Papers 66 (1) 26–32 (2012)