Consideration of Polymer Inclusion Membranes Containing D2EHPA for Toxic Metallic Ion (Pb 2+ ) Extraction Recovery O. Kebiche-Senhadji  , L. Mansouri and M. Benamor Laboratoire des Procédés Membranaires et des Techniques de Séparation et de Récupération, Université de Bejaia, DZ-06000 Béjaia, Algeria Abstract. CTA Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing an acidic carrier (D2EHPA) were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared resonance spectroscopy (FT-IR). The surface and cross-section morphology of the membrane was inspected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The transport through polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was found as an effective method of lead (II) cations removal from nitrate aqueous solutions. Transport of lead (II) through PIMs reduces the concentration of metallic cation in source aqueous phase from 12.4 to 0.86 ppm, which corresponds to an efficiency removal of 93%. The competitive transport of lead(II), cadmium(II) and zinc(II), from nitrate aqueous solution across the PIM was found efficient for the removal of all the metallic cations examined (lead(II) (89%), cadmium(II) (85%) and zinc(II) (84%)). Keywords: Toxic Metal ions recovery; Facilitated transport; Polymer inclusion membrane (PIM); D2EHPA. 1. Introduction Over the past few decades, membrane technology has found application in a variety of industries, ranging from water desalination to gas separations. At present, the demand of membrane technology in the field of gas separation, medicine, wastewater treatment, production of drinking water by desalination, and other methods is increasing day by day [1]. The big importance in membrane separation technology lies essentially in the fact that it is potentially energy-efficient. Separation systems have recently received much attention because of their lower costs and greater flexibility. Fundamentals properties required of such membranes are high permeability and high selectivity [2]. In recent years, separation methods based on polymeric inclusion membranes (PIMs) have received considerable attention due to the high stability of such membranes compared to that of supported liquid membranes [3]. These membranes are easy to prepare and have excellent mechanical properties [4]. It is envisaged that the development of metal selective PIMs will bring in a quantum jump in the field of separation science and technology [5]. These processes are of great importance because of the use of selective carrier species which would increase the mass transfer and improve the selectivity of the process [6]. PIMs appropriate for facilitated transport of organic and inorganic species consist of a polymer, a plasticizer, and a carrier. The polymer provides mechanical strength, while the plasticizer provides elasticity and constitutes the liquid phase in which the carrier molecule can diffuse. The carrier molecule acts as a guest-specific host that provides selective membrane permeability for target species [7].  Corresponding author. Tel.: +21334 215105; fax: +21334215105. E-mail address: kebiche_anissa@yahoo.fr. 2015 5th International Conference on Environment Science and Engineering Volume 83 of IPCBEE (2015) DOI: 10.7763/IPCBEE. 2015. V83. 30 169