ENRICHMENT OF AMINO-ACIDS BY SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANE EXTRACTION USING ALIQUAT-336 AS A CARRIER

The possible application of Aliquat 336 (trioctylmethyl ammonium chlor ide) as a carrier for liquid membrane extraction of amino acids was in vestigated. The extraction is performed from an aqueous donor phase wi th pH > 11 to an acceptor phase containing a salt solution through a s upported liquid membrane with Aliquat 336 as a carrier in the membrane to facilitate amino acid transport. Counter-coupled transport of chlo ride anions from the acceptor phase to the donor phase is the driving force of the mass transfer in this system. The extraction efficiency d epends on the donor phase pH, the carrier concentration in the liquid membrane, the composition of the acceptor phase and the hydrophobicity of the amino acid. The observed stability of such liquid membranes su pported on commercial porous-PTFE membranes with a hydrophobic solvent is more than 20 days.