Modeling of facilitated transport of Cr(III) using (RNH3+HSO4−) ionic liquid and pseudo-emulsion hollow fiber strip dispersion (PEHFSD) technology

The permeation of chromium (III) using PEHFSD technology and the ionic liquid (RNH3+HSO4−), formed by reaction of the primary amine PRIMENE JMT and sulphuric acid, dissolved in n-decane as mobile carrier has been investigated. The alkaline feed solution containing Cr(III) was passed through the tube side, and pseudo-emulsions of the ionic liquid + n-decane + n-decanol and sulphuric acid were passed through the shell side in counter-current mode and using a single hollow fiber module for extraction and stripping. In this advanced membrane technology, the aqueous acidic strip solution is dispersed in the organic membrane solution in a tank with an impeller stirrer to form a strip dispersion. The pseudo-emulsion phase is circulated from the tank to the membrane module to provide a constant supply of the organic solution to the membrane micropores. Factors affecting chromium permeability, such as hydrodynamic conditions, carrier concentration in the organic phase, metal and NaOH concentrations in the feed phase, have been analyzed. A model is reported describing the transport mechanism, whereas the experimental data are quantitatively explained by mathematical equations describing the rate of transport. Different rate-controlling processes take place as long as the metal transport occurs.