Stability and performance study of emulsion nanofluid membrane: A combined approach of adsorption and extraction of Ethylparaben

[Display omitted] •Investigation on stability and performance of emulsion nanofluid membrane (ENM).•Formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes stabilised emulsion.•Application of ENM in extraction of ethylparaben.•Study of extraction kinetics and evaluation of mass transfer coefficients. The key obstacle in employing Emulsion Liquid Membrane (ELM) process for industrial separations is the stability of emulsion. In the present study, nanofluid containing Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) is used for the improvement of ELM stability. Emulsion Nanofluid Membrane (ENM) consisting of n-Heptane (diluent), Span 80 (surfactant), MWCNT, Trioctylamine (carrier) and sodium carbonate (internal phase) is used to explore its potential for the extraction of Ethylparaben (EP), an endocrine disrupting compound. Emulsion stability analysis were carried out using Turbiscan, photomicrographs, Scanning electron microscopy and size distribution of emulsions droplets were also revealed. Batch adsorption and extraction studies were performed for the removal of EP using ENM containing different concentration of MWCNT (50 mg/L-300 mg/L). The stability indexes for the emulsions with and without MWCNT were estimated as 54.54% and 45.83% respectively. The performance was also improved as 97.10% EP extraction was achieved using emulsion consisting of 3% w/v Span 80, 2% w/v Trioctylamine, 100 mg/L MWCNT and 0.5 N sodium carbonate concentration in ENM as compared to 90.26% EP extraction in the ELM. Study of extraction kinetics and estimation of mass transfer coefficients were also accomplished.