Extraction of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester from a model media using Ag(I)-containing o/w/o-type emulsion liquid membranes

Using silver ion as a carrier in oil/water/oil-type emulsion liquid membranes, batchwise extraction experiments were done to separate eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA-Et) from a model mixture consisting of EPA-Et and ethyl laurate. Moderate operating conditions were chosen for the concentration of Ag(I), the type of surfactant, and agitation strength. The emulsion liquid membranes thus formed were stable, and the concentration of Ag(I) and the surfactant types had strong effects on the permeation behavior of EPA-Et. The overall volumetric coefficients of EPA-Et obtained in the present study were equal to or smaller than those of organic solutes obtained with the data available in literature. It was found that the overall volumetric coefficients of these organic solutes increase linearly on a log-log scale, with increasing distribution ratios.