DIFFUSIONAL MODEL OF COPPER BY SOLVENT-EX TRACTION ON HOLLOW FIBERS-TYPE SOLID SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES FROM MINE WATERS

The transport of copper from El Teniente's mine waters by solvent extr action in a membrane extractor using a hollow fiber as solid support a s solid support has been studied. LIX-860, a salicylaldoxime was used as carrier. The flux of metal was highly influenced by the extractant concentration and slightly by the pH of feed solution. The experimenta l results were analyzed by a diffusion model which considers extractio n chemical reaction would occur at inner interface of liquid membrane and assumes that diffusion of copper-extractant complex through the me mbrane would be the rate-controlling step. A good agreement was observ ed between the experimental results of flux and the calculated ones by use of this diffusional transport mode.