Factorial design in optimization of extraction procedure for copper (II) using Aliquat 336 and Tri-n-butylphosphate based supported liquid membrane

Abstract

In the present paper, extraction procedure for copper (II) present in an aqueous sulphate media using a supported liquid membrane by chloride tri-N-octylmethylammonium (Aliquat 336) and Tri-n-butylphosphate from molar ratio 1:1, with polytetrafluoroethylene as a membrane support was studied. The effects of various parameters such as initial pH, potassium thiocyanate concentration and ammonium acetate concentration on the extraction yield, were carried out. By a calculation programme using Chemical Equilibrium in Aquatic System V. L20.1, the determination of the percentages of the present species before and after extraction were given in aqueous medium and on the membrane to be able to determine the relation between the nature of the extracted species and the extraction yield. The optimization process was carried out using 2³ factorial designs. Initial pH (pH_i) of feed solution, the concentration of potassium thiocyanate and the concentration of ammonium acetate were regarded as factors in the optimization. Student’s t-test on the results of the 2³ factorial design with eight runs for copper (II) extraction demonstrated that the factor concentration of potassium thiocyanate in the levels studied are statistically significant. Under the optimum conditions the percentage of extracted copper (II) was 93.6% in one step.

Keywords:

• Supported liquid membrane
• Optimization
• Copper (II)
• Extraction
• Factorial design

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and CMEP-TASSILI No. 10 MDU 799 for their financial support.