Highly Efficient and Selective Transport of Cu(II) with a Cooperative Carrier Composed of Tetraaza-14-Crown-4 and Oleic Acid through a Bulk Liquid Membrane

Tetraaza-14-crown-4 and oleic acid was successfully applied for transport of Cu(II) in chloroform bulk liquid membrane. The uphill moving of Cu(II) during the liquid membrane transport process has occurred. The main effective variable such as the type of the metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase and its concentration, tetraaza-14-crown-4 and oleic acid concentration in the organic phase on the efficiency of the ion-transport system were examined. By using L-cysteine as a metal ion acceptor in the receiving phase, the maximum amount of copper (II) transported across the liquid membrane was achieved to 96 ± 1.5% after 140 minutes. The selectivity of copper ion transport from the aqueous solutions containing Pb²⁺, Tl⁺, Ag⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions were investigated. In the presence of CH₃COONH₄ and Na₄P₂O₇ as suitable masking agents in the source phase, the interfering effects of Pb⁺² and Cd²⁺ were diminished drastically.