The purpose of this study was to integrate supported liquid membranes and ion exchange resin processes and then applied on the treatment of multi-component metal ions from waste streams of the hard disk manufacture industry. In this work, aluminum ions were easily precipitated and separated from nickel and zinc ions solutions through a precipitation process by adding a 1M sodium carbonate solution to multi-component metal ion solutions. At the same time, the precipitation process can keep the aluminum hydroxide precipitation from the blockage of the pores of hollow fiber module along the operation of the supported liquid membrane process. D2EHPA, Isopar-L, 1-dodecanol and aqueous zinc-nickel sulfate solutions were used to be the extractant, diluent, modifier and feed solution respectively in order to evaluate the separation efficiency of the support liquid membranes process at an initial low pH value of 2.5. Results indicated that the zinc ions can be completely removed from the aqueous complex zinc-nickel sulfate solutions and concentrated from initial concentration of 1000 mg Zn2+/L to 18700 mg Zn2+/L through the extraction process and stripping process respectively after 180 minutes operation. Additionally, nickel ion can be completely extracted by the supported liquid membranes after 60minutes operation at pH 3.0. Recovered concentrated nickel ions at a concentration of 14800 mg Ni2+/L can be accomplished through the stripping process of the supported liquid membranes after 180 minutes operation. Through successive three-stage treatment processes, multi-component metal ions from waste streams can be successfully separated and removed by the extraction process and then regenerated and concentrated by the stripping process. Results for the treatment of nickel ions by the combination of the supported liqid membranes at high initial nickel ions concentrations as well as ion exchange resins processes at low initial nickel ions concentrations respectively showed the time of treatment processes can be effectively reduced.

supported liquid membrane;extraction/stripping;ion exchange resin