A fast and effective method for ammonium removal: Emulsion Liquid Membrane

In this study, ammonium was removed from an aqueous solution by using the Emulsion Liquid Membrane technique. The optimum values of the parameters that had effects on the removal process were determined and results were analyzed using statistical methods. As a result of the conducted experiments, it was determined that the volumetric ratio of the emulsion phase was 0.12, the effective internal phase source was H2SO4, the internal phase volumetric ratio was 0.42, the internal phase concentration was 0.36 N, the surfactant ratio was 2 %, the diluent ratio was 34/64 (mineral oil/toluene, %, v/v), homogenizer speed and time were 10,000 rpm and 1 min, agitation speed was 250 rpm, and external phase pH was 10.80. The fact that 98 % yield was achieved in a very short extraction time (15 s) under optimal conditions and the fact that the studies conducted on this subject in the literature are limited and different reveals the importance of this study obviously.