Water-soluble polymer associated to regenerated cellulose membrane for boron removal

Abstract

This research presents a systematic study of boron removal from aqueous systems by means of liquid-phase polymer-based retention. Poly(3(N-glucidol-N-methyl)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate), P(GMHP) was prepared and used to form complexes with boron, and a regenerated-cellulose membrane was used as a complex separator. The removal experiments of boron were conducted at 1 bar of pressure by varying pH, polymer:boron molar ratio, and the presence of interfering ions. The results showed higher retention capacity for boron at pH 9.5 with P(GMHP). The optimal polymer:boron molar ratio was 40:1. The second removal tests were performed using two simulated water samples from northern Chile with the same pH and concentration of boron, arsenic, and chloride. P(GMHP) showed a maximum of 60% boron retention for these artificial water samples. Studies of boron enrichment using P(GMHP) with simulated water of Northern Chile showed that the soluble polymer reached maximum retention capacity values between 2.0 and 12.0 mg of B retained per gram of polymer.