Selective Facilitated Transport of Uranium(VI) Across a Bulk Liquid Membrane Containing Benzoyltrifluoroacetone as Extractant-Carrier

A study has been made on carrier-mediated transport of uranium(VI) using a bulk liquid membrane prepared by dissolving benzoyltrifluoroacetone (HBTA) in carbon tetrachloride. The source phase comprised of a solution of UO(2)(2+) or its binary mixture with other cations such as Th(4+), Hf(4+), Zr(4+), Fe(3+), La(3+), Cu(2+), Co(2+), Mn(2+), Ni(2+), and Zn(2+) in aqueous solutions of pH 6.0, while 0.1 M hydrochloric acid was serving as a stripping agent in the receiving compartment. The interference from Th(4+) and a few other cations could be eliminated by using trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (DCTA) as a proper masking agent in the feed solution. Various factors influencing the transport process have been studied and an uphill transport (> 99%) of uranium(VI) from the source phase could be accomplished under optimum conditions.