Abstract

Polymer inclusion membranes used for selective transport and separation of metallic ions have emerged in recent times. Their expansion depends on the method of preparation and the study of their structure. In this paper, an improvement of a novel category of membrane for performing toxic ions elimination was reported. Different membranes were synthesized using a mixture of polymers: polysulfone (PSu) and cellulose triacetate (CTA), Dioctylphtalate (DOP) was used as a plasticizer and Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) was incorporated into the polymers as carrier to increase specific interactions between the different components. The membranes (polymers- plasticizer-carrier) were synthesized using a new method and characterized by various techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and contact angle. As the plasticizers’ molecules were hydrophobic; their location at the surface of the modified polymeric membranes should modify the contact angle. Overall, our results showed that the addition of plasticizer with two polymers resulted in a homogeneous and hydrophobic membranes. A study of transport of Pb(II) and Cd(II) using synthesized membranes was studied. Dialysis experiments of lead and cadmium ions across a polymer inclusion membrane have proved a good performance.

Keywords: Polymers; Plasticizer; Organic membranes; Heavy metals; Water purification