THE CARRIER FACILITATED TRANSPORT OF THE LITHIUM IONS BY A SERIES OF NON-CYCLIC SYNTHETIC IONOPHORES

The carrier facilitated transport of lithium picrate was studied using a series of non-cyclic polyethers containing different end groups and chain lengths through Bulk Liquid Membrane (BLM) and Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) systems. The various membrane supports used are viz. PTFE, cellulose nitrate, and dialysis membrane and onion membrane. The amount of Li+ transported depends upon the structure of the ionophores and membrane supports used. The amount of Li+ ion transported follows the trend V >> IV ≈ III ≈ II >I >VI > VII > VIII = IX in the BLMs studies. Diethylene glycol dibenzoate proved to be the most efficient carrier for the transport of the lithium ion through liquid membrane systems.