Use of Specifically Tailored Chelating Polymers for Boron Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Polymer Enhanced Ultrafiltration


Doganay C. O., Ozbelge H. O., Bicak N., AYDOĞAN N., YILMAZ L.

SEPARATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol.46, no.4, pp.581-591, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 46 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/01496395.2010.530636
  • Journal Name: SEPARATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.581-591
  • Keywords: boron removal, membrane separation techniques, polychelatogen, ultrafiltration, BORIC-ACID, IONIC-STRENGTH, WATER, ADSORPTION, COMPLEXATION, FILTRATION, TRANSPORT, PH
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Two selective functional polychelatogens, namely hydroxyethylaminoglycerol functioned poly(glycidylmethacrylate (PNS) and Poly(4-Vinyl-1,3-dioxalan-2-one-co-vinyl acetate) (COP) were synthesized and utilized in polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) to remove boron from the aqueous solution. The effect of operating parameters on boron retention was investigated. PNS was synthesized in three molecular weights to observe the effect of molecular weight in borate retention. Increase in pH increased boron retention for all of the synthesized polymers. Decrease in loading resulted in an enhancement in retention values when COP, medium (PNSM) and the low molecular weight of PNS (PNSL) were used. No significant change was observed in the permeate flux with COP (41L/m2 center dot h), PNSL (48L/m2 center dot h) and PNSM (47L/m2 center dot h). However, a decrease in the loading led to a decrease in the permeate flux for high molecular weight PNS (PNSH). Conformational changes in the polymer structure were examined using dynamic and static light-scattering. Retention results for all of the polymers were found to be remarkably higher than the literature, when polyvinyl alcohol was used as the chelating agent. Satisfactory retention results were obtained using both PNSL (R: 54%) and PNSM (R: 57%), showing that PEUF can be employed effectively for borate removal using the specifically tailored polymers.