Selective transport of Ag (I) ion across a bulk liquid and polymer membranes incorporated with di-N-benzylated O3N2 donor macrocycles

The selective bulk liquid membrane and polymer membrane transports of Ag (I) from an aqueous solution containing seven metal cations, Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II), Ag (I), Cd (II) and Pb (II), was studied. The source phases contained equimolar concentrations of the above-mentioned cations, with the source and receiving phases being buffered at pH 5.0 and 3.0, respectively. Ag (I) ion transport occurred with a good efficiency from the aqueous source phases across the bulk liquid membrane and polymer membrane (derived from cellulose triacetate) containing ligand 1 as the ionophores, into the aqueous receiving phases. Clear transport selectivity for Ag (I) was observed using ligand 1. There was no selectivity for the cations using ligand 2 in the both bulk liquid membrane and polymer membrane transports.