Simultaneous and synergistic extraction of cationic and anionic heavy metallic species by a mixed solvent extraction system and a novel contained liquid membrane device

Many wastewaters as well as aqueous solutions used for hydrometallurgical extractions have multiple toxic heavy metals: some are present as cations; others are present as anions. This research is directed toward extracting multiple heavy metallic species simultaneously into an appropriate mixed solvent and then recovering and concentrating such heavy metals into appropriate aqueous stripping solutions. Heavy metals of interest are Cu(II), Cr(VI), Zn(II), Hg(II), etc. Such processes have been carried out in a nondispersive fashion in microporous hydrophobic hollow fiber membrane-based devices containing multiple sets of fibers. The results will be presented, and the basis of the observed synergism will be discussed. The advantages of such extraction-stripping processes will be pointed out.