Elaboration of new thin solid membrane bearing a tetrapyrazolic macrocycle for the selective transport of lithium cation

Liquid membranes are well known as an efficient way for the separation and recovery of lithium cation Li+. However, they show different limitations such as the low flux diffusion and the chemical instability. To overcome such issues, the elaboration of a thin solid membrane incorporating a tetrapyrazolic macrocycle is described. This was conducted by the polymerisation of a mixture containing a tetrapyrazolic macrocyclic monomer spread on a polyacrylonitrile support. The obtained membrane presents good chemical stability and pronounced selectivity for the recovery of Li+ among the other alkali cations. The flux diffusion of Li+ reached 16.6 · 10−3 mol h−1 m−2 in competitive transport and 36.5 · 10−3 mol h−1 m−2 in competitive transport against proton current.