Properties and Applications of Cryptand‐22 Surfactant for Ion Transport and Ion Extraction

A non‐ionic cryptand‐22 surfactant consisting of a macrocyclic cryptand‐22 polar head and a long paraffinic chain (C₁₀H₂₁‐Cryptand‐22) was synthesized and characterized. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the cryptand surfactant in ROH/H₂O mixed solvent was determined by the pyrene fluorescence probe method. In general, the cmc of the cryptand surfactant increased upon decreasing the polarity of the surfactant solution. The cryptand surfactant also can behave as a pseudo cationic surfactant by protonation of cryptand‐22 or complexation with metal ions. Effects of protonation and metal ions on the cmc of the cryptand surfactant were investigated. A preliminary application of the cryptand surfactant as an ion‐transport carrier for metal ions, e.g., Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Sr²⁺, through an organic liquid‐membrane was studied. The transport ability of the cryptand surfactant for these metal ions was in the order: K⁺ ≥ Na⁺ < Li⁺ < Sr²⁺. A comparison of the ion‐transport ability of the cryptand surfactant with other macrocyclic polyethers, e.g., dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6, 18‐crown‐6 and benzo‐15‐crown‐5, was studied and discussed. Among these macrocyclic polyethers, the cryptand surfactant was the best ion‐transport carrier for Na⁺, Li⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions. Furthermore, a foam extraction system using the cryptand surfactant to extract the cupric ion was also investigated.