Permeability dependencies on the carrier concentration and membrane viscosity for Y(III) and Eu(III) transport by using liquid membranes

•Membrane step in REEs recovery process was improved to be industrially implemented.•REEs were completely recovered from fluorescent lamp leachates by using HFRLM.•Y(III) and Eu(III) can successfully transported by Cyanex 923 as a carrier.•The transport model relies on organic phase and support membrane characteristics. The recovery of Y(III) and Eu(III) from fluorescent lamp leachates via supported liquid membranes using Cyanex 923 as a carrier has been studied. The results reveal that the transport process is mainly controlled by the diffusion or the viscosity of the organic phase depending on the carrier concentrations. Furthermore, this paper compares the transport model for flat sheet supported liquid membranes and hollow fibre renewal liquid membranes regarding both REEs in nitrate media. The model allows foreseeing the permeability coefficients for these REEs as a function of the organic phase variables. This study reveals furthermore, that the difference on the permeability coefficients between both membranes correlates to their structural characteristics, e.g. tortuosity, thickness and porosity.