Liquid Membranes

Phase 2

Membrane

Phase 1

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 Types of LM
 Volumetric or
Bulk (VLM)

 Immobilised (ILM) Porous

or Supported (SLM) liquid
support

Organic liquid
 Emulsion (ELM) & surfactant

Receiving 2
phase
Facilitated Transport
A
Diffusive
transport
A

Facilitated A
transport AC
A

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 Carrier Mediated Transport
Mobile Carrier Fixed Carrier

Diffusivities (cm2/s)
Mobile Gel Fixed
10-5-10-7 10-6-10-8 >10-7 4
Types of FT…

Uncoupled A

AC
Reaction
A
A+C<=>AC
A AC B
Coupled

B BC A

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Coupled configurations

A AC B
Counter
coupled
BC
transport B A
Reaction
A+CB<=>AC+B
A AC A
Co-coupled
transport B B
B
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FT Mechanism

Source phase LM Strip phase

M+ HC M+

H+ MC H+

1) Carrier reacts with solute

2) The complexed carrier diffuses across the membrane
3) Because the adjacent solution is dilute, the solute
carrier reaction is reversed, releasing solute
4) The carrier returns across the membrane 7
 FT: fast reaction case
 Carrier-solute Complex reaction:
k...distribution
A  C  AC coefficient
Flux of solute A: C A, 0
k
C A, f
DA k DAC  Kkc C A, f 
JA  C A, f   
L L 1  KkC A, f 
K...equilibrium
Flux due to Flux due to constant
diffusion complexation C AC , 0
K
C A8, 0CC
 Limiting cases
Total Flux Diffusion
of the
Fickean Flux complex
CA,0>>CAC,0
Intermediate
Region CAC,0>>CA,0
Fickean
diffusion

2
Damkolher number 

Dt0.5 9
 SLM Geometry
Planar Laboratory
Flat

Industry
Hollow Fiber
Spiral wound
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 Comparing
 Flat Sheet  Hollow Fiber
Feed and strip solutions Small leaks do not seriously affect
mix directly and the the performance
integrity of separation is
lost. If the membrane liquid is
contaminated, it can be easily be
replenished.
Can be fabricated easily
in the lab The pressure drop in fibre bundles
is larger
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SLM Problems
evaporation
Solvent loss disolution
large p

Carrier loss Irreversible

side reactions

Liquid flows Solvent

condensation

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Stabilization techniques

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 Classical Fields of Applications
 Facilitated transport of gases
 Oxigen
 Carbon Dioxide
 Carbon Monoxide
 Hydrogen Sulfide
 Olefins
 Nitric Oxide
 Sensor development

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 ... more Applications
 Immobilized Liquid Membranes
 Metal ion separations
 Controlof heavy metals pollutants
 Recovery of: copper, uranium and cobalt

 Separation of fermentation products

 Acetic and citric acid

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 ...and more
 Emulsion Liquid Membranes
 Metalion extraction
 Amino acid extraction
 Removal of species without chemical carriers

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Hollow fiber membrane-based enzyme-
facilitated separation

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Purification using ELM
Inner Phase Addition of LM
components

Recovered
Emulsifier
components
of the LM
Fresh emulsion
Wastewater Emulsion reflux

Inner
Settler Phase
Mixer Purified
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Water
 Balance of using LM
 Benefits
 High fluxes
 Very selective separations
 Ions can be concentrated
 Expensive extractants can be used

 Major Limitations
 Rupture
 Long term stability

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