EXTRACTION OF PHENOLS USING POLYURETHANE MEMBRANE

The extraction of various phenols from aqueous and organic solutions u sing polyurethane membrane has been investigated. The effects of solut ion concentration, extraction time, surface area, pH, salts, and tempe rature on extraction were studied. The phenols are extracted as neutra l species and the extraction is governed by a combined effect of intra - and intermolecular hydrogen bonding and nonspecific hydrophobic inte ractions. The ether-type membrane showed higher extraction capability for the phenols than the ester-type polyurethane membrane. (C) 1998 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.