MICELLAR EXTRACTION - REMOVAL OF COPPER(II) BY MICELLE-SOLUBILIZED COMPLEXING AGENTS OF VARYING HLB USING ULTRAFILTRATION

The hydrophobic core of micellar systems can solubilize hydrophobic ex tractants in a way similar to the organic solvent in a classical solve nt extraction. In this paper it is demonstrated that micellar extracti on can be as effective as solvent extraction and shows the same charac teristic features (effect of pH, effect of the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of the extractant, extractant concentration, etc.). A se ries of 6-[(alkylamino)methyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridines (CnNHMePyr w ith n = 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16) are used for this purpose in combina tion with CTAB and C12EO6 micelles. The removal of copper(II) is achie ved by ultrafiltration. A simple model is developed on the basis of eq uilibrium relations to theoretically predict the yield of copper extra ction.