Facilitated transport of palladium(II) across polymer inclusion membrane with ammonium ionic liquid as effective carrier

This work focuses on the application of polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) with tricaprylmethylammonium thiosalicylate, A336]TS] (TOMATS), a thiol-containing task-specific ionic liquid for the transport of Pd(II) ions from aqueous solutions. 0.3 M thiourea in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid was found the most effective stripping phase in the transport of Pd(II) from membrane phase containing TOMATS. Separation of Pd(II) ions was also carried out from hydrochloric acid solution containing Pt(IV), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Mn(II). Pd(II) ions were preferably transported in the presence of these metal ions. The separation coefficients followed the order: S _Pd/Pt < S _Pd/Fe < S _Pd/Ni < S _Pd/Mn. A336]TS] proved to be an excellent ion carrier for Pd(II) from hydrochloric acid solution. The results also showed that transport efficiency of the PIM was reproducible and it can be useful for the development of the simple and highly effective method of Pd(II) recovery from leach liquor of spent catalysts.