KINETIC ASPECTS OF COPPER (II) TRANSPORT ACROSS LIQUID MEMBRANE CONTAINING LIX-860 AS A CARRIER

The kinetics of liquid membrane extraction of copper using LIX-860 as a carrier was studied. It was found that the salicylaldoxime molecules are present in the organic (C-10-C-13) normal paraffins) membrane solution in the form of dimmers and that the distribution coefficient of copper does not depend on temperature within the range of 273-293 K. The kinetic studies of copper transport in the liquid membrane system studied point out that the rate of the first transfer step - copper transfer from the aqueous feed solution to the bulk of the membrane solution - is controlled by the solute diffusion across the first interface. The second step - copper transfer from the bulk of the membrane liquid to the aqueous sulphuric acid solution - is controlled not only by diffusion, but also by the rate of the chemical reaction between the copper-LIX-860 complex and the hydrogen ions present in the stripping solution.