Polymer Membranes in Separation Process

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2021) | Viewed by 16993

Special Issue Editor

Czestochowa University of Technology, Dabrowskiego 69 Street, PL 42-201 Czestochowa, Poland
Interests: materials engineering; materials chemistry; composites; polymer membranes; metal ions separation; sustainable materials; ecological materials and technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many technologies have been developed to remove pollutants from water and wastewater. Among the different processes, transport across liquid membranes is one of the most important methods and is an alternative to liquid–liquid extraction. Recently, the most popular method has been transport across polymer membranes. The efficiency and selectivity of this process depends on many factors, in particular on the nature of separated chemical compounds and ion carriers introduced into the membrane.

Therefore, this Special Issue on “Polymer Membranes in Separation Process” of the journal Membranes seeks contributions to assess the current state of knowledge and encourage future developments in the field of transporting chemical compounds across polymer membranes. Topics include but are not limited to the development of polymer materials for membranes, transport mechanisms, microstructures of membranes, process design, water and wastewater treatment, modeling and validation, the possibility of recycling and reusing membranes, and novel applications. Authors are invited to submit their latest results; both original papers and reviews are welcome.

Prof. Malgorzata Ulewicz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Polymer inclusion membrane
  • Separation process
  • Metal ions, organic and inorganic anion
  • Kinetic studies
  • Polymer membranes in environmental protection
  • Modelling of the transport process
  • Recycling and reusing membranes

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 168 KiB  
Editorial
Polymer Membranes in Separation Process
by Malgorzata Ulewicz
Membranes 2021, 11(11), 831; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11110831 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Among the many known physicochemical methods for the separation of organic compounds and metal ions from aqueous solutions, liquid–liquid extraction and membrane techniques hold a special position, enabling their recovery from dilute aqueous solutions [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

23 pages, 7182 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Kinetic Studies of Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) Polymer Inclusion Membrane for the Malachite Green Extraction
by Jillin Ai Lam Soo, Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar, Noor Fazliani Shoparwe, Tunmise Ayode Otitoju, Mardawani Mohamad, Lian See Tan and Sanxi Li
Membranes 2021, 11(9), 676; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11090676 - 31 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2706
Abstract
Textile industry effluent contains a high amount of toxic colorants. These dyes are carcinogenic and threats to the environment and living beings. In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) was used as the based polymer for PIMs with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (B2EHP) and [...] Read more.
Textile industry effluent contains a high amount of toxic colorants. These dyes are carcinogenic and threats to the environment and living beings. In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) was used as the based polymer for PIMs with bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (B2EHP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as the carrier and plasticizer. The fabricated PIMs were employed to extract the cation dye (Malachite Green; MG) from the feeding phase. PIMs were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle, water uptake, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ions exchange capacity. The performance of the PIMs was investigated under various conditions such as percentage of carrier and initial dye concentration. With permeability and flux values of 0.1188 cm/min and 1.1913 mg cm/min, PIM produced with 18% w/w PVDF-co-HFP, 21% w/w B2EHP, 1% w/w DOP and 40% w/w THF and was able to achieve more than 97% of MG extraction. The experimental data were then fitted with a pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, and the calculated R2 value was ~0.99. This shows that the data has a good fit with the PSO model. PIM is a potential alternative technology in textile industry effluent treatment; however, the right formulation is crucial for developing a highly efficient membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1027 KiB  
Article
Separation of Boron from Geothermal Waters with Membrane System
by Kadir Seval, Canan Onac, Ahmet Kaya and Abdullah Akdogan
Membranes 2021, 11(4), 291; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11040291 - 16 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1997
Abstract
This study presents the separation and recovery of boron from geothermal waters with a polymeric membrane system and suggests a transport mechanism. The optimum relative parameters of the transport were examined. The recovery value of boron was 60.46% by using polymeric membrane system [...] Read more.
This study presents the separation and recovery of boron from geothermal waters with a polymeric membrane system and suggests a transport mechanism. The optimum relative parameters of the transport were examined. The recovery value of boron was 60.46% by using polymeric membrane system from prepared aquatic solution to the acceptor phase. The membrane’s capacity and selectivity of the transport process were examined. Kinetics values were calculated for each transport parameter. The optimum kinetic values were 1.4785 × 10−6 (s−1), 7.3273 × 10−8 (m/s), 13.5691 × 10−8 (mol/m2.s), 5.8174 × 10−12 (m2/s) for constant rate, permeability coefficient, flux, and diffusion coefficient, respectively. Boron was transported selectively and successfully from geothermal waters in the presence of other metal cations with 59.85% recovery value. This study indicates the application of real samples in polymeric membrane systems, which are very practical, economic, and easy to use for large-scale applications. The chemical and physical properties of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) offer the opportunity to be specially designed for specific applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 19670 KiB  
Article
Calixresorcin[4]arene-Mediated Transport of Pb(II) Ions through Polymer Inclusion Membrane
by Joanna Konczyk and Wojciech Ciesielski
Membranes 2021, 11(4), 285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes11040285 - 13 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2076
Abstract
A facilitated transport of Pb(II) through polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) containing 1,8,15,22-tetra(1-heptyl)-calixresorcin[4]arene and its tetra- and octasubstituted derivatives containing phosphoryl, thiophosphoryl or ester groups as an ion carrier was investigated. The efficiency of Pb(II) removal from aqueous nitrate solutions was considered as a [...] Read more.
A facilitated transport of Pb(II) through polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) containing 1,8,15,22-tetra(1-heptyl)-calixresorcin[4]arene and its tetra- and octasubstituted derivatives containing phosphoryl, thiophosphoryl or ester groups as an ion carrier was investigated. The efficiency of Pb(II) removal from aqueous nitrate solutions was considered as a function of the composition of membrane (effect of polymer, plasticizer, and carrier), feed (effect of initial metal concentration and presence of other metal ions) and stripping phases, and temperature of the process conducting. Two kinetic models were applied for the transport description. The highest Pb(II) ions removal efficiency was obtained for the membrane with tetrathiophosphorylated heptyl-calixresorcin[4]arene as an ion carrier. The activation energy value, found from Eyring plot to be equal 38.7 ± 1.3 kJ/mol, suggests that the transport process is controllable both by diffusion and chemical reaction. The competitive transport of Pb(II) over Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) ions across PIMs under the optimal conditions was also performed. It was found that the Cr(III) ions’ presence in the feed phase disturb effective re-extraction of Pb(II) ions from membrane to stripping phase. Better stability of PIM-type than SLM-type membrane was found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 6488 KiB  
Article
New Polymer Inclusion Membrane in the Separation of Nonferrous Metal Ion from Aqueous Solutions
by Ilona Pyszka and Elzbieta Radzyminska-Lenarcik
Membranes 2020, 10(12), 385; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes10120385 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
The new polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) with ethylenediamine-bis-acetylacetone (EDAB-acac) matrix was used for the separation of Zn(II) solutions containing non-ferrous metal ions (Co(II), Ni(II) Cu(II), Cd(II)). The effective conditions for carrying out transport studies by PIMs were determined on the basis of solvent [...] Read more.
The new polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) with ethylenediamine-bis-acetylacetone (EDAB-acac) matrix was used for the separation of Zn(II) solutions containing non-ferrous metal ions (Co(II), Ni(II) Cu(II), Cd(II)). The effective conditions for carrying out transport studies by PIMs were determined on the basis of solvent extraction studies. The values of the stability constants and partition coefficients of M(II)-EDAB-acac complexes were determined from the extraction studies. The stability constants increase in series Ni(II) < Cu(II) < Co(II) < Cd(II) < Zn(II), and their logarithms are 8.85, 10.61, 12.73, 14.50, and 16.84, respectively. The transport selectivity of the PIMs were: Zn(II) > Cd(II) > Co(II) > Cu(II) > Ni(II). The established stability constants of the complexes also decrease in this order. The values of three parameters: initial flux, selectivity coefficient, and recovery factor of a given metal after 12 h were selected for the comparative analysis of the transport process. The highest values of the initial fluxes were received for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Co(II). They are, depending on the composition of the mixture, in the range 9.87–10.53 µmol/m2, 5.26–5.61 µmol/m2, and 7.43–7.84 µmol/m2 for Zn(II), Co(II), and Cd(II), respectively. The highest recovery factors were observed for Zn(II) ions (90–98.0%). For Cd, Co and Cu, the recovery factors are high and are within the range 76–83%, 64–79%, and 51–66%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

26 pages, 3396 KiB  
Article
Facilitated Transport of Copper(II) across Polymer Inclusion Membrane with Triazole Derivatives as Carrier
by Bernadeta Gajda, Radosław Plackowski, Andrzej Skrzypczak and Mariusz B. Bogacki
Membranes 2020, 10(9), 201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes10090201 - 27 Aug 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2049
Abstract
This study investigates copper(II) ion transport through a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) containing 1-alkyl-1,2,4-triazole (n = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14), o-nitrophenyl octyl ether as the plasticizer and cellulose triacetate as the polymer matrix. The feeding phase was a solution of [...] Read more.
This study investigates copper(II) ion transport through a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) containing 1-alkyl-1,2,4-triazole (n = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14), o-nitrophenyl octyl ether as the plasticizer and cellulose triacetate as the polymer matrix. The feeding phase was a solution of 0.1 mol/dm3CuCl2 and an equimolar (0.1 mol/dm3) mixture of copper, nickel, and cobalt chlorides with varying concentrations of chloride anions (from 0.5 to 5.0 mol/dm3) established with NaCl. The receiving phase was demineralized water. The flow rate of the source and receiving phases through the membrane module was within the range from 0.5 cm3/min to 4.5 cm3/min. The tests were carried out at temperatures of 20, 30, 40 and 50 °C. Transport of NaCl through the membrane was excluded for the duration of the test. It was noted that the flow rate through the membrane changes depending on the length of the carbon chain in the alkyl substituent from 16.1 μmol/(m2s) to 1.59 μmol/(m2s) in the following order: C8> C9> C10> C11> C12> C14. The activation energy was 71.3 ± 3.0 kJ/mol, indicating ion transport through the PIM controlled with a chemical reaction. Results for transport in case of the concurrent separation of copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) indicate a possibility to separate them in a selective manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 6536 KiB  
Article
Separation of Zn(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) Ions Using the Polymer Inclusion Membranes Containing Acetylacetone Derivative as the Carrier
by Elzbieta Radzyminska-Lenarcik, Ilona Pyszka and Malgorzata Ulewicz
Membranes 2020, 10(5), 88; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes10050088 - 30 Apr 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2557
Abstract
Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) doped with ethylenodiamino-bis-acetylacetone as fixed carrier was applied for the investigation of the facilitated transport of Zn(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) ions from an aqueous nitrate feed phase (cM = 0.001 mol/dm3). The optimal membrane composition (amount [...] Read more.
Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) doped with ethylenodiamino-bis-acetylacetone as fixed carrier was applied for the investigation of the facilitated transport of Zn(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) ions from an aqueous nitrate feed phase (cM = 0.001 mol/dm3). The optimal membrane composition (amount of carrier and o-NPPE-plasticizer) was determined. For the optimal polymer inclusion membranes doped with ethylenodiamino-bis-acetylacetone, the following patterns of transport selectivity were found: Zn(II) > Cr(III) > Ni(II). The initial flux of Zn(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) ions was 6.37 µmol/m2∙s, 5.53 µmol/m2∙s, and 0.40 µmol/m2∙s, respectively. The selectivity coefficients equal to 1.2 and 15.9 were found for Zn(II)/Cr(III) and Zn(II)/Ni(II), respectively. After 24-h transport, the recovery factor of Zn(II), Cr(III), and Ni(II) were 90%, 65%, and 6%, respectively. The polymer inclusion membranes doped with ethylenodiamino-bis-acetylacetone were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy. The influence of membrane morphology on transport process was discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

23 pages, 5251 KiB  
Review
Application of Hydrophobic Alkylimidazoles in the Separation of Non-Ferrous Metal Ions across Plasticised Membranes—A Review
by Malgorzata Ulewicz and Elzbieta Radzyminska-Lenarcik
Membranes 2020, 10(11), 331; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/membranes10110331 - 06 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Currently, a lot of attention is paid to polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). Their particular advantages include effective support fixation, easy preparation, versatility, stability, good mechanical properties and good chemical resistance. The paper presents a review of the literature related to the applications of [...] Read more.
Currently, a lot of attention is paid to polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). Their particular advantages include effective support fixation, easy preparation, versatility, stability, good mechanical properties and good chemical resistance. The paper presents a review of the literature related to the applications of polymer inclusion membranes containing alkylimidazole derivatives as carriers in the processes of transporting ions of heavy and toxic metals, such as Zn(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II). It has been proven that alkylimidazoles exhibit varying complex-forming properties towards metal ions, and that their properties (hydrophobic and alkaline) can be modified easily by changing the size of the alkyl group and its position in the imidazole ring, which allows obtaining efficiently working metal ion carriers. The stability of an imidazole derivative-metal ion complex determines the speed and selectivity of the process of transporting metal ions across polymer inclusion membranes. Also, the morphological structure of polymer inclusion membranes impacts the efficiency of the process involving the release and separation of metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Membranes in Separation Process)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop