The development of an empirical mass transfer relationship for the extraction of copper ions in a carrier facilitated tubular supported liquid membrane system

Abstract

Treatment of waste material from mining and mineral processing is gaining increasing importance as a result of the increasing demand for high purity products and environmental concerns. Supported liquid membranes (SLMs) have been proposed as a new technology for the selective removal of metal ions from a solution. This technology can be described as the simultaneous extraction and stripping operation, combined in a continuous single process unit. Theoretically, the rate of mass transfer through SLM systems could be controlled by three resistances, namely: · Resistance through the feed-side · Resistance through the strip-side laminar layers; and · Diffusion through the membrane. It has been reported that transport resistance in the feed-side laminar layer is controlling. (Srisurichan et al, 2005:186). The objective of this research was to extract copper ions in a TSLM system, evaluate the effect of the feed characteristics on the feed-side laminar layer and determine a relationship between the applicable dimensionless numbers, i.e. Sherwood, Schmidt and Reynolds numbers. A Counter-current, double pipe Perspex bench-scale reactor, consisting of a single hydrophobic PVDF tubular membrane mounted vertically within, was used for the test work. The membrane was impregnated with LIX 984N-C and became the support for this organic transport medium. Dilute Copper solution passed through the centre pipe and sulphuric acid, as a strippant, passed through the shell side. In this test work, Copper was successfully transported from the feed-side to the strip-side and through repetitive results; a relationship between dimensionless numbers was achieved.