Solvent extraction and bulk liquid membrane transport of Co(II) and Ni(II) ammine cations by proton-ionizable crown ethers

Separation efficiencies and selectivities in solvent extraction of Co(II) and Ni(H) ammine cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform and toluene and in transport through bulk toluene membranes by proton-ionizable crown ethers have been determined. Six proton-ionizable crown ethers with differing lipophilicities, polyether cavity sizes and ionizable groups (carboxylic and sulfonic acid functions) were examined. Higher selectivity and efficiency for Co(II) ammine cation extraction was observed for the more lipophilic, proton-ionizable crown ethers. Highly lipophilic crown carboxylic acids provided effective and selective transport of Co(II) ammine cations through bulk toluene membranes.Presented in part at the 6th International Symposium on High Purity Materials in Science and Technology: Preparation, Characterization and Application of Well-Defined Materials, Dresden, GDR, May 1985, Poster D91, Poster Abstracts, pp. 144, 145.All extraction and transport experiments were conducted at this location.