RECENT ADVANCES IN SEPARATION OF METALS BY LIQUID SURFACTANT MEMBRANES

In this paper, recent advances in the separation of metals by liquid surfactant membranes are reviewed, with emphasis placed on development of a suitable surfactant. In establishing a metal recovery process using liquid surfactant membranes, the choice of a suitable surfactant is a key factor. It is important to elucidate the role of the surfactant on the behavior of liquid surfactant membranes, e.g., the break-up rate and the swelling rate of W/O emulsion glubules in a mixer, the demulsification rate of the emulsions in an electrical coalescer and the extraction rate of metal by liquid surfactant membranes. These problems are discussed. The application of liquid surfactant membranes to the metal separation processes is also described.