Modeling and experimental validation of the steady-state counteractive facilitated transport of Th(IV) and hydrogen ions through hollow-fiber renewal liquid membrane

In this study, a new mathematical model was proposed to analyze the permeation of thorium across the hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane (HFRLM). Diluted solutions of bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) and H(2)SO(4)were used as the carrier and strip phases, respectively, in a one-through mode of operation. A one-dimensional (longitude direction) and time-independent model was developed based on the mass conservation equations and considered not only the transport of thorium but also the counter-transport of hydrogen ions on both sides of the module. The set of obtained algebraic and ordinary differential equations was numerically solved, and the comparison between the calculated results and the experimental data was performed. Experimental results were obtained at various operating conditions such as the lumen side fluid flow rate, carrier concentration, initial pH of the feed phase, initial solute concentration of the donor phase, and the module scale. Modeling results show that the developed model could predict the experimental data as well.