Preconcentration and selective metal ion separation using chelating micelles

Chelating aggregates consisting of Triton X100 host micelles and hydrophobic derivatives of PAN have been examined as suitable candidates for preconcentration and selective separation of transition metal ions through micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration. The effective accumulation in the surfactant-rich retentate of nickel(II), copper(II), cobalt(II), manganese(II) and zinc(II), present at trace levels in aqueous samples, has been achieved by operating at pH ca. 6 with a ligand having a binding constant to the host micelles higher than 2000 l./mol. The efficient separation of micelle-bound metal chelates from unreactive ions has been assessed, together with the feasibility of selective enrichment and purification of the investigated metal ions present in mixtures through a multistage process.