RECOVERY OF CU(II) FROM MINE WATERS IN EX TRACTOR USING IMPREGNATED HOLLOW FIBERS-TYPE LIQUID MEMBRANES

The communication describes a process of recovery and enrichment of Cu (II) from mine waters in a liquid membrane extractor using hollow fibe rs as solid support. 5-Dodecylsalicylaldoxime was used as extracting c arrier for copper (II). Respect to previous work, the present report c ommunicates recent advances in the extraction of copper from real solu tions using an extractor system which works with only one reactor by i mpregnating with the organic solvent the pores of the solid support. T hese results were compared with others obtained using a former extract or system made of two coupled reactors (one for extraction and one for stripping) which works by recycling a bigger inventory of organic pha se between reactors. The novel extraction system showed an improved ef ficiency to metal transport saving a significant amount of solvent.