Role of Operating Process Parameters on Stability Performance of Green Emulsion Liquid Membrane Based on Rice Bran Oil

Abstract

Abstract The current research work elucidates an experimental study on the stability performance of a green emulsion liquid membrane (GELM). A GELM based on rice bran oil (RBO) is a new subset of a previously existing organic solvent-based emulsion liquid membrane (ELM). These organic solvents are responsible for several environmental as well as for economic problems. A GELM is an economical and environmentally friendly green separation technique. The GELM was formulated using a green solvent (RBO), emulsifying agent (Span 80), and stripping aqueous phase agent (NaOH). Emulsification speed of 2100 (r.min −1 ), emulsification time of 20 (min), 2% (v/v) Span 80 concentration, 0.25 [M] NaOH concentration, 1 : 3.5 (v/v) treat ratio, 0.4 (v/v) phase ratio, agitation speed of 400 (r.min −1 ), and agitation time of 20 (min) have been obtained as the optimum values of process parameters. The highest achievable dynamic stability was found to be 150 ± 2 min along with the negligible emulsion swelling/breakage (%). Moreover, the membrane breakage (%) has been obtained <1 ± 0.05% which was in trade-off with the emulsion swelling (%) under these obtained optimum process parameters. Thus, this present investigation on the stability performance of GELM provides the new insights regarding the role of various process parameters which will be further helpful during the extraction of low concentrated solutes through GELM based separation processes.