TECHNICAL NOTE MEMBRANE-TRANSPORT OF COPPER WITH LIX-860 FROM ACID LEACH WASTE SOLUTIONS

A membrane transport process is described. The process was developed f or use in the recovery of copper from nitric acid leach residual solut ions. The pur and the extraction extent of copper with 5-dodecylsalicy ladoxime dissolved in Kermac 500-T (an industrial diluent) were measur ed at 30 degrees C by using a membrane extractor made of a hollow fibr e. The content of carrier extractant in the wall of the porous fibre p resented the biggest influence on metal extraction rate and its extrac tability. The results were explained by a diffusion model which consid ers that the extraction chemical reaction would occur at the inner int erface of the liquid membrane, taking account that diffusion of copper -oxime complex through the membrane would be the rate-controlling step . (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.