Development of an emulsion liquid membrane system for extraction of a neutral species

An attempt to extract a neutral species, fructose, in an aqueous solution by emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) was made for the first time. A mixture of an organoboronic acid and a quaternary ammonium salt was used as a carrier for the extraction of fructose. We investigated the effects of various experimental conditions, the type and the concentration of organoboronic acids, the concentration of the quaternary ammonium salt, and the type and the pH of the external and the internal aqueous phases, etc., on the extraction of fructose. Finally, we found a suitable emulsion liquid membrane system to extract the neutral species even though development of a strong stripping reagent was required to improve the extraction efficiency of the emulsion liquid membrane system. With the help of a tetrahedral extraction mechanism, the transport of fructose could be explained as well.