Abstract
The removal of toxic heavy metal ions is of great concern in the environmental field. Emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technology has been proposed for the separation processes to enhance the extraction process and reduce the solvent and carrier requirement in comparison with other conventional solvent extractions techniques. Emulsion liquid membrane is an unsupported liquid membrane in which the membrane phase of an emulsion is dispersed into the feed phase to be treated. ELM technique is an accessible and easy way for the removal of different chemicals, metal ions, organic compounds, biomolecules, pollutants from aqueous feed phase and the transport them into desired receiving phases. This review article delineates the role of different parameters on the extraction process in ELM separation processes. These parameters strongly influence the percentage removal of metal ions and emulsion leakage. The optimum membrane properties can enhance the recovery of the desired phase and improves the stability of the ELM by minimizing the swelling and leakage of the membrane. The future direction of ELM technology can be the use of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as stabilizers, carriers and can replace the conventional volatile toxic organic solvents.