Study on ultrasonically assisted emulsification and recovery of copper(II) from wastewater using an emulsion liquid membrane process

The aim of this work was to study the emulsification assisted by ultrasonic probe (22.5 kHz) and investigate the removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution using water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion liquid membrane process (ELM). The membrane was prepared by dissolving the extractant bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and the hydrophobic surfactant sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) in hexane (diluent). The internal phase consisted of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid. Effects of operating parameters such as emulsification time, ultrasonic power, probe position, stirring speed, carrier (D2EHPA) and surfactant (Span 80) concentrations volume ratios of organic phase to internal striping phase and of external aqueous phase to membrane (W/O) phase, internal phase concentration and choice of diluent on the membrane stability were studied. With ultrasound, the W/O emulsion lifetime were much higher than those reported previously by mechanical agitation. The effect of carrier and Cu(II) initial concentration on the extraction kinetics was also investigated. Nearly all of the Cu(II) ions present in the continuous phase was extracted within a few minutes. Additionally, the influence of H2SO4 concentration on the stripping efficiency was examined.