Transport of Rhodium(III) from Chloride Media across a Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing an Ionic Liquid Metal Ion Carrier

Efficient and selective transport of rhodium(III) across a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) from a 0.1 mol dm -3 HCl feed solution, also containing iron(III), to a receiving solution containing 0.1 mol dm -3 HCl and 4.9 mol dm -3 NH 4 Cl was achieved using a phosphonium-type ionic liquid, trioctyl(dodecyl)phosphonium chloride (P 88812 Cl), as the metal ion carrier. The optimum PIM composition for the Rh(III) transport was 50 wt % poly(vinylidene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), 30 wt % P 88812 Cl, and 20 wt % plasticizer 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (2NPOE). The driving force for the Rh(III) transport was suggested to be the concentration difference of the chloride ion between the feed and the receiving solutions. More than 70% rhodium(III) could be recovered from the receiving solution, and no transport of iron(III) was observed; however, the two metal ions cannot be separated by liquid-liquid extraction. This is the first report of selective transport of rhodium(III) across a polymer inclusion membrane.