Transport of alkali metal cations through liquid membrane using non-cyclic synthetic ionophores

Abstract

Furan and acetaldehyde have been condensed in ethanol in the presence of cone. HCI to get linear oligomers possessing tetrahydrofuran units. A series of synthetic ionophores is synthesized with the introduction of different end groups at the terminal positions of tetraethylene glycol For the transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ , 3, 4 exhibit selectivity for Na⁺ over K⁺ , while 1,1 and 5, 6 show greater transport ability with no selectivity through liquid membrane. From the results of ion transport study, relationship between the structure and transport ability is discussed.