PET fabric supported fixed site carrier membrane for selective metal ion transport

Development of a novel fixed site carrier membrane (FCM), supported by PET fabric for metal ion separation is reported. The membranes were prepared by dipping PET fabric into the methylene chloride solution of Poly(5-vinyl-m-phenylene-m′-phenylene-32-crown-10)_ (P(VCE)), a polymeric metal ion carrier. It was found that the flux of mono-valent metal ion transported across the membrane is significantly differed from each other and the flux decreases in the order Cs⁺>Rb⁺>K⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺ irrespective to the anion except perchlorate anion. It was explained in terms of the stability of the complex, formed by crown ether unit of the P(VCE) and the various metal ions, meanwhile, the lower rate of transport in the presence of perchlorate anion was ascribed to its low hydrophilicity.