Proton ionizable macrocyclic compounds and selective competitive separation of desirable metal ions from mixtures thereof with other ions.

摘要

The invention has composition of matter and process aspects. The composition of matter aspect relates to compounds selected from the class consisting of and The process aspect involves the use of these compounds to complex with and separate a desired selected ion from a multiple ion solution, breaking the complex to free the desired ion and recovering the freed desired ion. This process can be carried out in these ways: (A) as ligands in a liquid membrane phase for selectively and competitively separating desired metal ions from mixtures with other ions in a separate source phase and transporting these ions to a separate receiving phase, with both of which the liquid membrane phase is in interfacial contact long enough to effect substantial removal of the desired ions from the source phase and transporting them to the receiving phase from which they are recovered, (B) as covalently bonded to silica gel supported in a column through which the multiple ion solution is first flowed, followed by receiving liquid, and (C) as ligand in an organic liquid filling pores or apertures in the wall of a hollow fiber in a bundle of hollow fibers on opposite sides of which flow the multiple ion solution and the receiving liquid.