A SIMPLE WAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SEPARATION SELECTIVITY OF HYDROCARBONS BY O W/O EMULSION LIQUID MEMBRANE/

Transfer of hydrocarbons in an O/W emulsion drop was simulated by the dimensionless multi-layer liquid membrane model in order to find a way of improving the separation selectivity of an emulsion liquid membran e, which will be of practical use. The results suggested that the sele ctivity of the emulsion membrane, lowered by the unfavorable concentra tion profile which appeared in an emulsion drop, would be improved by decreasing the number of inner oil droplets in the emulsion drop. A se ries of batch permeation experiments were conducted with a one-dimensi onal supported liquid membrane and an emulsion liquid membrane. The se paration selectivity of the supported membrane was equivalent to that of the mono-layer liquid membrane and that of the emulsion membrane wa s lower, Selectivity of the emulsion membrane could be improved by dec reasing the number of inner droplets in the emulsion drop as suggested by the simulation, These experimental confirmations of the suggested model led to a simple way of improving the separation selectivity of t his separation technique.