Facilitated transport of penicillin G by bulk liquid membrane with TBP as carrier.

The facilitated transport of penicillin G from aqueous solutions to the stripping phase through bulk liquid membrane (BLM) containing TBP in 3% iso-octanol and n-butyl acetate was studied. Na(2)CO(3) solution was used as the stripping phase. Experiments were performed as a function of stirring rate, TBP concentration and type of diluent in the liquid membrane phase, pH, and initial penicillin G concentration in the feed phase, Na(2)CO(3) concentration in the stripping phase, etc. The results showed that the BLM process could carry out the simultaneous separation and concentration of penicillin G from dilute aqueous solutions, and arise "up-hill" effect due to the characteristic of non-equilibrium mass transfer. The diffusion of penicillin G complex in the liquid membrane phase played an important role in BLM process. The mass transfer mechanism of BLM for this system was also discussed.