Solvent Extraction Behavior of Metal Ions with Calixarene Derivatives by Using a Microreactor

In this study, the extraction behavior of calixarene derivatives by using the multiphase parallel flow technique was investigated. Using a partially-modified microfluidic device, the extraction rate of silver and palladium ions from the aqueous phase with calix[4]arene derivatives was evaluated. As a result, the time necessary for silver ion to reach equilibrium was 15 s. In the case of palladium extraction, the extraction percentage was 80 % at 8 s reaction time. In the conventional batch method, the times necessary for silver and palladium extraction to reach equilibria were about 72 h and 5 min, respectively. These results showed that increasing the liquid-liquid interface area is effective in the solvent extraction of metal ions with calix[4]arene derivatives. The correlation between the difference in the functional groups of calix[4]arenes and their effect on the rate of extraction at the parallel flow liquid-liquid interface was considered.