Separation study of cadmium as CdI4(2-) through a bulk liquid membrane containing ketoconazole and oleic acid.

A chloroform membrane system containing a given mixture of ketoconazole and oleic acid was applied for the uphill transport of Cd2+ ions as CdI42-. In an HCl medium the ligand could form a stable ion-pair with CdI4(2-), which was readily extractable in the membrane phase. A weak basic solution (pH 8) was used as a suitable stripping medium for the quantitative transport of cadmium across the liquid membrane after 120 min. The selectivity and efficiency of Cd2+ transport from an aqueous solution containing other cations, such as Co2+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Pd2+ and Zn2+ ions, were investigated. It was found that none of these cations interfered with Cd2+ transport.