As part of this work the study of transport of organic acids, namely oxalic, tartaric, and lactic acids through polymer inclusion membrane were carried out. As a polymer matrix cellulose triacetate (CTA) and as a carrier 1-alkiloimidazole (IMI-n, n = 10, 11, 12, 14) were used. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the polymer inclusion membrane on the transport rate of selected organic acids. On the basis of the obtained results and percolation theory, a theoretical description of the phenomenon of separation processes was proposed. Also, the percolation threshold for the separated organic acids was determined.

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Research into the infl uence of ethoxylated alcohols on the citric acid transport through polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) has been carried out. This process may be used in the future as one of the methods of citric acid isolation. Ethoxylated alcohols, which were GENAPOL® X020, X060 and X150, served as both: plasticizer and carrier. The results showed that the maximum values of citric acid fl ux [mol/(m 2 . s)] were equal to: 1.02 . 10 -4 (X020), 1.57 . 10 -4(X060) and 1.77 . 10 -4 (X150). The obtained results allow proceeding further study on using the polymer inclusion membranes, as an alternative to traditional methods of citric acid separation, which are precipitation and extraction.