Stability of supported liquid membranes

This thesis deals with the stability of supported liquid membranes (SLMs). The use of SLMs, in which an extraction liquid containing a carrier is immobilized in the pores of a microporous support, has recently been introduced as a promising new separation technique. Some advantages ascribed to this method are: the high selectivity, the possibility to concentrate ions by coupled transport and the high diffusion rate through the liquid. Despite these advantages SLMs are, until now, not widely used in practical separation processes. One of the main reasons is the instability of the SLMs. This thesis describes the results of research into the mechanism of SLM-degradation, with the purpose to provide guide lines for the development of stable liquid membranes.