| Abstract: | The understanding of the permeation rate of metal ions through liquid membranes is important for the design of such systems. In this paper, the permeation rates of copper ions through liquid surfactant membranes, including interfacial reaction rates and the diffusion rate of the copper ion, were analyzed using a model based on a mobilized hollow spherical globule configuration. The analysis shows that the extracting reaction is dominant at the external interface of the membrane and the stripping reaction is dominant at the internal interface; this means the reactions at both interfaces are not in equilibrium during the course of extraction. It also shows that the extraction rate, the diffusion rate and the stripping rate are not of equal value, especially at the early stage of the run. |
