ELABORATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ORGANIC MEMBRANES: EFFECT OF POLYMER BLENDING ON COMPETITIVE TRANSPORT OF METAL IONS

Abstract

Polymeric membranes used for selective transport and separation of metallic ions have emerged in recent times. Their expansion depends on the method of preparation and their suitable structure and physico-chemical characteristics. In this paper, a novel category of membranes for ions separation is reported. The membranes were synthesized by the solvent evaporation method, using a mixture of polysulfone (PSL) and cellulose triacetate (CTA) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The synthesized membrane exhibited hydrophobicity and thermal stability at more than 120 °C, as well as a more or less porous structure. The competitive transport of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions through the polymeric membranes was studied. Competitive transport experiments through the synthesized membranes showed that Ni(II) was selectively and efficiently transported by the three types of membranes, a transport efficiency exceeding well over 45% being achieved by using the PSL based membrane at an optimal concentration of 25 ppm.