Use of supported liquid membranes for sulfate extraction from acidic wastewaters

Sulfate pollution is a current target of many national regulatory and enfor cement agencies worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate t he possibility of using supported liquid membranes to remove low concentrat ion sulfate ions from acidic wastewater. Alamine 336 was identified as a su itable carrier. It was used together with isodecanol as a phase modifier an d kerosene as a solvent to form the liquid membrane. Celgard 2500 was used as a support. It was concluded that sulfate ions could be removed from poll uted water by means of a cotransport mechanism in conjunction with ion-immo bilization. Sodium carbonate was used to strip the sulfate ions from the or ganic phase. This technique promises to be a useful tool in combating sulfa te pollution.