The Effect of Emulsifiers on the Emulsion Stability and Extraction Efficiency of Cr(VI) Using Emulsion Liquid Membranes (ELMs) Formulated with a Green Solvent
Katia Anarakdim,
Gemma Gutiérrez,
Ángel Cambiella,
Ounissa Senhadji-Kebiche,
María Matos
Affiliations
Katia Anarakdim
Laboratoire des Procédés Membranaires et des Techniques de Séparation et de Récupération, Département de Génie des Procédés, Université de Bejaia, Bejaia 06000, Algerie
Gemma Gutiérrez
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
Ángel Cambiella
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
Ounissa Senhadji-Kebiche
Laboratoire des Procédés Membranaires et des Techniques de Séparation et de Récupération, Département de Génie des Procédés, Université de Bejaia, Bejaia 06000, Algerie
María Matos
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
The stability of emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) and their ability to extract Cr(VI) were investigated. The objective of this study is to compare different ELM formulations using combinations of two hydrophilic (Tween 20 and Tween 80) and two lipophilic (polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and Span 80) emulsifiers. TOPO (tri-n-octylphosphine oxide) as a carrier and a green solvent (sunflower oil) were used to provide high extraction efficiency of Cr(VI). All these double emulsions were characterized in droplet size distribution, zeta potential, visual inspection with a microscope, and stability. The best formulation was obtained with PGPR as the inner stabilizer and Tween 80 as the outer stabilizer, leading to Cr(VI) ion removal efficiency of up to 96%.
