Selective transport of copper(II) ion across a polymer membrane incorporating a difunctional Schiff-base ionophore

The selective polymer membrane transport of Cu(II) from an aqueous solution containing seven metal cations, Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ag(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), was studied The source phase contained equimolar concentrations of the above-mentioned cations, with the source and receiving phases being buffered at pH 4.9 and 3.0, respectively. Cu(II) ion transport occurred (J=2.82 x 10(-7) mol/h at 25 degrees C) from the aqueous source phase across the polymer membrane (derived from cellulose triacetate) containing ligand (1) as the ionophore, into the aqueous receiving phase. Clear transport selectivity for Cu(II) was observed.