ON THE MECHANISM OF METAL-IONS FACILITATED TRANSPORT THROUGH PSEUDO-LIQUID MEMBRANES

On the basis of FT-IR spectroscopy investigation and the data on the membrane extraction the new ''flow-type'' mechanism of the facilitated transport of cobalt through a pseudo-liquid membrane - the tri-n-octylamine (TOA) in n-decane solution, immobilised in porous polymeric nitrocellulose microfilter Synpor, has been suggested. The specific channels of metal ions conductivity seem to be formed when the organic phase reaches a definite stoichiometrical composition of ingredients including the metal ions. The swift current of protons takes with it negatively charged metal ions and transports them through the membrane against the metal concentration gradient. The empirical relationship between the TOA concentration by the maximum cobalt transport and its initial concentration has been found: C-max(TOA) = 0.33 Ig{C-in(Co)} + 3.30. This relationship describes the experimental data quite well and allows the calculation (by the same condition) of the concentration of TOA providing more effective transfer of cobalt. It is shown that the nature of the porous surface of a microfilter practically does not influence the mechanism of the cobalt ion transport.