Mechanism of nitromethane liquid membrane oscillator containing sodium oleate

The oscillatory behavior of a liquid membrane oscillator with anionic surfactant was investigated in order to understand the oscillation mechanism at the molecular level. As a theoretical framework, an approach based on chemical kinetics laws has been used. The chosen system involved nitromethane with 2,2(')-bipyridine as liquid membrane. The aqueous donor phase contained sodium oleate and butanol, while sodium chloride was added to the aqueous acceptor phase. It was established that the oscillations take place exclusively at the aqueous acceptor phase/membrane interface. Therefore, liquid membrane oscillators with anionic surfactants behave the same way as oscillators with cationic surfactants as to the location of oscillations. An oscillation mechanism involving three stages is proposed and confirmed by numerical simulations. The oscillations of electrical potential differences between the two aqueous phases are produced by sudden adsorption and desorption of anionic surfactant in solvated form and butanol at the acceptor/membrane interface. The whole process is controlled by the slow diffusion of these species across the liquid membrane. The chaotic character of the oscillations was demonstrated by Lyapunov exponents obtained from the strange attractor of the system.     

Mechanism of a four-phase liquid membrane oscillator containing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

The oscillatory behavior of a nitromethane based liquid membrane oscillator was investigated to contribute to the oscillation mechanism at the molecular level. At the beginning the system contains three phases: the aqueous donor phase in which the cationic surfactant, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and ethanol are present and the aqueous acceptor phase made up by sucrose solution separated by the liquid membrane containing a constant amount of picric acid. During experiment a new phase x is created between the liquid membrane and acceptor phase. It was established that the oscillations take place at the membrane/phase x and the phase x/acceptor phase interfaces. Five basic regions can be distinguished in the oscillation pattern. The molecular events provoking the oscillations of electric potential difference between the two aqueous phases involve essentially the diffusion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and ion pairs formed by the cation of the surfactant and the picrate anion to the vicinity of the membrane/phase x interface, sudden adsorption of these ion pairs at this interface in noncatalytic and autocatalytic steps, desorption of ion pairs from the membrane/phase x interface into phase x, diffusion of ion pairs to the vicinity of phase x/acceptor phase interface, and sudden adsorption at this interface followed by desorption to the aqueous acceptor phase. It is shown by numerical simulations that the proposed mechanism may account for the observed oscillations and for the species distribution throughout the system as found experimentally. This four-phase system behaves like two coupled oscillators.     

New bulk liquid membrane oscillator composed of two coupled oscillators with diffusion-mediated physical coupling

A new type of bulk liquid membrane system, which represents the first example of a bulk liquid membrane oscillator characterised by the presence of two coupled oscillators, is described. When the benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride surfactant undergoes an oscillatory mass transfer through a nitromethane liquid membrane, a new liquid layer (phase X) appears between the membrane and the acceptor phase. Kinetic analysis provides evidence that the whole system is composed of two coupled oscillators with diffusion-mediated physical coupling. The first component oscillator (based on nitromethane) of lower frequency delivers the driving material to the second one (phase X-based oscillator) leading to additional higher frequency oscillations. A new molecular mechanism is proposed for interpreting the experimental observations. The results might enhance understanding of intercellular communication in biology, where periodic signalling is more efficient than any other type of signalling mode.     

Study on the oscillating phenomena of electrical potential across a liquid membrane

The electrical oscillations across a liquid membrane in water/oil/water system was studied with octanol as oil phase by introducing two opposite charged surfactants in oil and aqueous phase, respectively. The sustained and rhythmic oscillation was observed. To a certain extent, the features of the oscillation (e.g. induction time, frequency, life time and orientation of the pulse pikes) strongly depend on the property of surfactant, dissolved in octanol. The mechanism may be explained by the formation and destruction of dual-ion surfactant membrane accompanying with emulsification at the interface and considering the coupling effect of diffusion and associated reaction in the vicinity of the interface.     

Design of oscillations across the artificial liquid membrane between water and oil phases

Two types of system were designed which exhibited sustained potential oscillations across the liquid membrane between an aqueous solution (water phase) and a nitrobenzene solution (oil phase). Type I contained a cationic surfactant in water phase corresponding to an organic acid in oil phase, while type II contained an anionic surfactant corresponding to an organic base. The oscillating behaviors were investigated, and the oscillating mechanism was briefly discussed. Simulation on the oscillatory model showed a qualitative agreement between the experimental and computed curves of oscillations.     

Extraction of glyphosate by a supported liquid membrane technique

The possible application of the supported liquid membrane (SLM) technique for the extraction of glyphosate is presented. For the extraction of this compound the SLM system has been applied with utilisation of Aliquat 336 as a cationic carrier incorporated into the membrane phase. The extraction efficiency of glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is dependent on the donor phase pH, carrier concentration in the organic phase and NaCl concentration in the acceptor phase. The optimal extraction conditions are: donor phase pH>11, acceptor phase of 2 M NaCl solution and the organic phase composed of 20% (w/w) Aliquot 336 solution in di-hexyl ether. Counter-coupled transport of chloride anions from the acceptor phase to the donor phase is a driving force of the mass transfer in this system.     

A study on a two-component liquid membrane system

A novel two-component liquid membrane system in which one of the components, polyethylene glycol, acts as both carrier and surfactant, is described. The composition and the stability of the two-component liquid membrane system are discussed in terms of surfactant concentration, base concentration in the internal phase, acidity of the external phase, the concentration of the counter-anion SCN^? in the cation extraction, etc. The extraction efficiency and the permeation mechanism of the system are compared with that of conventional three-component liquid membranes. Obviously, the nature of the system is quite different from three-component liquid membranes and conventional solvent extraction, although the system of solvent extraction also contains two components.     

Environmental and bioanalytical applications of hollow fiber membrane liquid-phase microextraction: a review

In hollow fiber membrane liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), target analytes are extracted from aqueous samples and into a supported liquid membrane (SLM) sustained in the pores in the wall of a small porous hollow fiber, and further into an acceptor phase present inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. The acceptor phase can be organic, providing a two-phase extraction system compatible with capillary gas chromatography, or the acceptor phase can be aqueous resulting in a three-phase system compatible with high-performance liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis. Due to high enrichment, efficient sample clean-up, and the low consumption of organic solvent, substantial interest has been devoted to LPME in recent years. This paper reviews important applications of LPME with special focus on bioanalytical and environmental chemistry, and also covers a new possible direction for LPME namely electromembrane extraction, where analytes are extracted through the SLM and into the acceptor phase by the application of electrical potentials.     

The liquid membrane process for the separation of mercury from waste water

The separation of mercury from waste water by means of the liquid membrane process (LMP) was investigated. The mercury was transferred from the external continuous phase across the liquid membrane to the internal phase. Dibutylbenzoylthiourea was used as a carrier in the liquid membrane, and Rofetan OM as a surfactant. The mercury reacts with thiourea in the internal phase to give a mercury—urea complex. The chemical system used for LMP is very efficient in the transfer of mercury. Laboratory experiments were primarily concerned with the influence of different volume ratios and initial concentrations of mercury. In the majority of cases more than 95% of the mercury in the external phase is transferred across the liquid membrane within three minutes. The experimental values could be quantitatively represented by an empirical model.     

Marangoni instability and spontaneous non-linear oscillations produced at liquid interfaces by surfactant transfer

The systems producing non-linear spontaneous oscillations of the interfacial tension and electric potential are considered and the available criteria for development of convective instability by the surfactant transfer through a liquid interface are discussed. The non-linear oscillations are observed by the surfactant transfer from a point-like source situated in the bulk of liquid, by the transfer of two ionic solutes through a liquid interface in two opposite directions, and by the transfer of ionic solutes through a liquid membrane. All these systems are governed by more complicated mechanisms than merely arising oscillatory convective instability. The main experimental results obtained for these three systems as well as theoretical models proposed for their explanation are discussed.     

Nonlinear spontaneous oscillations at the liquid/liquid interface produced by surfactant dissolution in the bulk phase

The results of theoretical and experimental studies of spontaneous nonlinear oscillations produced at the liquid/liquid interface by surfactant transfer from a point source situated in one of the bulk phases are presented. The theoretical analysis is based on the direct numerical simulation of the system evolution. The experiments are performed for the heptane/water interface using middle-chain aliphatic alcohols as surfactants. The results for the oil/water interface are compared with the corresponding data obtained for the air/water interface. The presented results allow the conclusion that auto-oscillations at the air/liquid and liquid/liquid interfaces are governed by very similar mechanisms but their characteristics are strongly dependent on the properties of the two contacting media, in particular, on the surfactant partition coefficient.     

Electro membrane isolation of nerve agent degradation products across a supported liquid membrane followed by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

In the present study, electro membrane isolation (EMI) of four nerve agent degradation products has been successfully explored. In the procedure, a polypropylene sheet membrane folded into an envelope with an open end with its wall pores impregnated with 1-octanol was employed as the artificial supported liquid membrane (SLM). The envelope containing the extractant or aqueous acceptor phase (at pH 6.8) was immersed in the sample or donor phase (also aqueous at a pH of 6.8) for extraction. This ensured that the target analytes were fully ionized. A voltage was then applied, with the negative electrode placed in the donor phase with agitation, and the positive electrode in the acceptor phase. The ionized analytes were thus driven to migrate from the donor phase across the SLM to the acceptor phase. The factors influential to extraction: type of organic solvent, voltage, agitation speed, extraction time, pH of the donor and acceptor phase and concentration of humic acids were investigated in detail. After extraction, the acceptor phase was collected and directly injected for capillary electrophoretic (CE) analysis. Combined with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D), the direct detection of these compounds could be achieved. Moreover, large-volume sample injection was employed to further enhance the sensitivity of this method. Limits of detection (LODs) as low as ng/mL were reached for the studied analytes, with overall LOD enhancements of four orders of magnitude.     

Carrier-mediated extraction of bipyridilium herbicides across the hydrophobic liquid membrane

Supported liquid membrane (SLM) method for preconcentration and enrichment of the two bipyridilium herbicides, namely diquat and paraquat, from environmental water samples has been developed. The permanently charged cationic herbicides were extracted from a flowing aqueous solution to a stagnant acidic acceptor solution across a liquid membrane containing 40% (v/v) di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid dissolved in di-n-hexyl ether. The mass transfer of analytes is driven by the counter-coupled transport of hydrogen ions from the acceptor to the donor phase. The efficiency of the extraction process depends on the donor solution pH, the amount of the mobile carrier added to the liquid membrane and the concentration of the counter ion in the acceptor solution. The applicability of the method for extraction of these quaternary ammonium herbicides from environmental waters was also investigated by spiking analyte sample solutions in river water. With 24 h sample enrichment concentrations of diquat and paraquat down to ca. 10 ng/L could be detected in environmental waters.     

Micro-scale membrane extraction of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in water followed by high-performance liquid chromatography and post-column derivatization with fluorescence detector

A carrier-mediated supported liquid membrane micro-extraction using single hollow fiber membrane suitable for the determination of the herbicide glyphosate and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid in water is reported. A solution of 0.20 M Aliquat-336, a cationic carrier, in di-n-hexyl ether was selected as the supported liquid. A 20 microL of 1.0 M potassium chloride as the acceptor phase was filled in the membrane lumen. The membrane was immersed in a 20 mL of pH 9.0 sample solution. After 60-min extraction, the acceptor phase was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization. The enrichment factors were found to be 853 and 136 for glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid, respectively. The method detection limits are 0.22 microg/L for glyphosate and 3.40 microg/L for aminomethylphosphonic acid. The procedure was validated and showed good accuracy and precision over a large linear dynamic range. The validated method was tested for the analysis of both analytes in spiked groundwater with good success.     

铜在乳状液膜体系中的迁移行为

近年来膜分离技术在环境治理方面得到广泛应用。本文研究了铜在span80-TBP（磷酸三丁酯）-煤油-NH3液膜分离体系中的迁移行为。用TBP作为载体,在溶液中迁移时,在外相与膜相界面上形成中性络合物后穿过膜相,在膜相与内相界面上络合物再与NH3反应,生成铜氨络离子,释放出来的TBP又返回膜相。     

Liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction of nitrophenols with a hollow fiber membrane prior to capillary liquid chromatography

A simple liquid-liquid-liquid microextraction device utilizing a 2 cm x 0.6 mm I.D. hollow fiber membrane was used to preconcentrate nitrophenols from water sample prior to capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) analysis. The extraction procedure was induced by the pH difference inside and outside the hollow fiber. The donor phase outside the hollow fiber was adjusted to pH approximately 1 with HCl; the acceptor phase was NaOH solution used at various concentrations. Organic solvent was immobilized into the pores of the hollow fiber. With stirring, the neutral nitrophenols outside the fiber were extracted into the organic solvent, then back extracted into 2 microl of basic acceptor solution inside the fiber. The acceptor phase was then withdrawn into a microsyringe and injected into the cLC system directly. This technique used a low-cost disposable extraction "device" and is very convenient to operate. Up to 380-fold enrichment of analytes could be achieved. This procedure could also serve as a sample clean-up step because large molecules and basic compounds were not extracted into the acceptor phase. The RSD (n=6) was less than 6.2%, while the linear calibration range was from 1 to 200 microg/ml with r>0.998. The procedure was applied to the analysis of seawater.     

Selective extraction of triazine herbicides from food samples based on a combination of a liquid membrane and molecularly imprinted polymers

A selective extraction technique based on the combination of liquid membrane (microporous membrane liquid–liquid extraction) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) was applied to triazines herbicides in food samples. Simazine, atrazine and propazine were extracted from aqueous food samples through the hydrophobic porous membrane that was impregnated with toluene, which also formed part of the acceptor phase. In the acceptor phase, the compounds were re-extracted onto MIP particles. The extraction technique was optimised for the amount of molecularly imprinted polymers particles in the organic acceptor phase, extraction time, and type of organic acceptor solvent and desorption solvent. An extraction time of 90 min and 50 mg of MIP were found to be optimum parameters. Toluene as the acceptor phase was found to give higher triazines binding onto MIP particles compared to hexane and combinations of diethyl ether and hexane. 90% methanol in water was found to be the best desorption solvent compared to acetonitrile, methanol and water. The selectivity of the technique was demonstrated by extracting spiked lettuce and apple extracts where clean chromatograms were obtained compared to liquid membrane extraction alone or to the microporous membrane liquid–liquid extraction – non-imprinted polymer combination. The MIP showed a certain degree of group specificity and the extraction efficiency in lettuce extract was 79% (0.72) for simazine, 98% (1.55) for atrazine and 86% (3.08) for propazine.     

Studies on emulsion liquid membrane extraction of cephalexin

An experimental study on batch extraction of cephalexin using an emulsion liquid membrane system has been reported. The effects of surfactant, carrier and solute concentrations, phase volume ratio, stirring speed, and counterion concentration on the extraction rate were examined. Surfactant, carrier and diluent used were Span-80, Aliquat-336 and n-heptane–kerosene (1:1), respectively. Under the optimised experimental conditions, emulsion swelling was found to be marginal. By maintaining an appropriate pH gradient in the feed and receiving aqueous phase, facilitated transport could be realised. Selective separation of cephalexin from a mixture of 7-aminodeacetoxy cephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA) could be demonstrated in the emulsion liquid membrane system. A mathematical model based on mass transfer across aqueous boundary layer, interfacial chemical reaction and diffusion in the emulsion globule provides a reasonable fit of the experimental solute concentration versus time profiles in the emulsion liquid membrane system.     

Feasibility of surfactant-free supported emulsion liquid membrane extraction

Supported emulsion liquid membrane (SELM) is an effective means of conducting liquid-liquid extraction. SELM extraction is particularly attractive for separation tasks in the microgravity environment where density difference between the solvent and the internal phase of the emulsion is inconsequential and a stable dispersion can be maintained without surfactant. In this research, dispersed two-phase flow in SELM extraction is modeled using the Lagrangian method. The results show that the SELM extraction process in the microgravity environment can be simulated on earth by matching the density of the solvent and the stripping phase. The feasibility of surfactant-free SELM (SFSELM) extraction is assessed by studying the coalescence behavior of the internal phase in the absence of the surfactant. Although the contacting area between the solvent and the internal phase in SFSELM extraction is significantly less than the area provided by regular emulsion due to drop coalescence, it is comparable to the area provided by a typical hollow-fiber membrane. Thus, the stripping process is highly unlikely to become the rate-limiting step in SFSELM extraction. SFSELM remains an effective way of achieving simultaneous extraction and stripping and is able to eliminate the equilibrium limitation in the typical solvent extraction processes. The SFSELM design is similar to the supported liquid membrane design in some aspects.     

Highly selective and efficient membrane transport of silver as AgBr2- ion using K+-decyl-18-crown-6 as carrier.

Potassium-decyl-18-crown-6 was used as a highly selective and efficient carrier for uphill transport of silver as AgBr2-complex ion through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane. When thiosulfate anion was used as a metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase the amounts of silver transported across the liquid membrane after 120 and 180 min were 87.0 +/- 1.8% and 96.0 +/- 1.9%, respectively. The selectivity and efficiency of silver transport from aqueous solution containing Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Fe3+ ions were investigated. In the presence of EDTA at pH = 4 as suitable masking agent in the source phase, the interfering effects of Pb2+ and Fe3+ ions were diminished drastically.