Factorial design in optimization of the separation of uranium from yellowcake across a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane,with mass transport modeling

The extraction and stripping of uranium(VI) from other impurity elements in yellowcake was performed simultaneously in one stage by a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane. Uranium ions were selectively extracted from yellowcake using TBP as the extractant, while thorium and some rare earth elements were rejected in the raffinate. The optimization method was carried out using 3² factorial design. The concentration of nitric acid in the feed solution and the concentration of TBP in the liquid membrane were regarded as factors in the optimization. A mass transport model focusing on the boundary layer of the extraction side was also applied. The model can predict the concentration of uranium in the feed tank at different times. The validity of the developed model was statistically evaluated through a comparison with experimental data, and good agreement was obtained.     

Separation of Co(II) and Ni(II) from thiocyanate media by hollow fiber supported liquid membrane containing Alamine300 as carrier — investigation on polarity of diluent and membrane stability

The separation of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions by HFSLM has been presented. The feed solution is 0.5M thiocyanate containing 300 ppm each of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions, whereas extractant is Alamine300 and the stripping solution is ammonia. Cobalt(II) is more preferable with Alamine300 than nickel(II). The effects of pH, Alamine300 concentration and ammonia concentration were investigated. Seven diluents were used: hexane, decanol, chlorobenzene, benzene, dichloromethane, ethylene dichloride and chloroform with different polarity indexes, from 0.1–4.1. Nickel(II) ion which is unpreferable with Alamine300 was used as a tracer to determine the membrane stability. The polarity of the diluents was found to be the main factor influencing the extraction performance and stability of a liquid membrane. The decreasing of polarity of the diluent can prolong the membrane stability, but the percentages of extraction and stripping decreased. The longest lifetime, 200 minutes, was obtained by using hexane as a diluent with the polarity index of 0.1.     

Selective enantioseparation of levocetirizine via a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane and mass transfer prediction

The enantioselective separation of levocetirizine via a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane was examined. O,O′-dibenzoyl-(2R,3R)-tartaric acid ((?)-DBTA) diluted in 1-decanol was used as a chiral selector extractant. The influence of concentrations of feed and stripping phases, and extractant concentration in the membrane phase, was also investigated. A mathematical model focusing on the extraction side of the liquid membrane system was presented to predict the concentration of levocetirizine at different times. The extraction and recovery of levocetirizine from feed phase were 75.00% and 72.00%, respectively. The mass transfer coefficients at aqueous feed boundary layer (k _f ) and the organic liquid membrane phase (k _m ) were calculated as 2.41×10² and 1.89×10² cm/s, respectively. The validity of the developed model was evaluated through a comparison with experimental data, and good agreement was obtained.     

Reduction of concentration polarization at feeding interphase of a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane by using periodic operation

An experimental investigation was carried out to reduce the concentration polarization at feeding interphase between feed solution and liquid membrane imposing flow instabilities. The periodic operation of the hollow fiber supported liquid membrane for separation of lanthanide metal by using D2EHPA as extractant dissolved in kerosene. The operating flow rate of the feed solution was varied according to a symmetric square wave function around time-average values of 200, 300 and 400 ml/min. Time periods ranging from 18 to 3 minutes and amplitudes of 50 and 100 ml/min were investigated. The results of these periodic tests were compared with results obtained from the conventional steadystate mode of operation. It has been found that the periodic operation leads to higher stripping concentration or higher ion flux than that obtained from the corresponding steady state operating conditions. This is because periodic operation disturbs concentration polarization in the boundary layer between the feed solution and liquid membrane. It has also been found that the ion flux increases with increasing amplitudes and decreasing time periods of the forcing function. However, when the period is less than 3 minutes the flux decreases because the liquid membrane is peeled out from the pores of hollow fiber.     

Mass transfer modeling on the separation of tantalum and niobium from dilute hydrofluoric media through a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane

The separation of a mixture of tantalum and niobium in dilute hydrofluoric media via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) was examined. Quaternary ammonium salt (Aliquat336) diluted in kerosene was used as a carrier. The various effects on the transport and separation of tantalum and niobium were studied: concentration of hydrofluoric acid in the feed solution, concentration of the carrier (Aliquat336) in the membrane phase, types of stripping solutions (NaClO₄, thiourea and HCl) and their concentration. The extraction of tantalum in the membrane phase from 0.3 M hydrofluoric acid (HF) by 3% (v/v) Aliquat336 was achieved by leaving niobium in the feed solution. Quantitative recovery of tantalum was achieved by 0.2 M NaClO₄. Furthermore, a mathematical model focusing on the extraction side of the liquid membrane system was presented in order to predict the concentration of tantalum at different times. The mass transfer coefficients of the aqueous feed (k_i) and the organic membrane phase (k_m) were estimated as 1.19 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.39 × 10⁻⁷ cm/s, respectively. Therefore, the mass transfer limiting step is the diffusion of tantalum-Aliquat336 through the liquid membrane. Moreover, mass transfer modeling was performed and the validity of the developed model evaluated. Experimental data and theoretical values were found to be in good agreement when the concentration of Aliquat336 in the membrane phase was below 4% (v/v).