Transport of alkali-metal picrates through liquid membranes: Coupled action of w/o microemulsion droplets and lipophilic crown-ether carriers

The transport of potassium and sodium picrates is measured by a liquid membrane technique in the presence of two mobile carriers: water-in-oil microemulsion droplets and lipophilic crown-ethers. The fluxes are compared for two cases: (i) the crown-ether (dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 is assumed to be independent of the microemulsion droplet and (ii the crown-ether (dodecano- 18-crown-6) is assumed to be anchored in the droplet. A lower flux is observed when the microemulsion droplet and the crown-ether diffuse as a single entity. These results suggest that larger synergistic effects are obtained when the extractant can diffuse independently of the microemulsion droplet.