Separation of fluoride from other monovalent anions using multilayer polyelectrolyte nanofiltration membranes

Nanofiltration (NF) is an attractive technique for reducing F- concentrations to acceptable levels in drinking water, but commercial NF membranes such as NF 270 and NF 90 show minimal Cl-/F- selectivity. In contrast, simple layer-by-layer deposition of 4.5-bilayer poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) films on porous alumina supports yields NF membranes that exhibit Cl-/F- and Br-/F- selectivities>3 along with solution fluxes that are >3-fold higher than those of the commercial membranes. Fluoride rejection by (PSS/PDADMAC)4PSS membranes, which is >70%, is independent of pressure over a range of 3.6 to 6.0 bar, suggesting that the primary transport mechanism in these films is convection. Moreover, the fact that Br-/F- selectivity is 12% higher than Cl-/F- selectivity suggests that discrimination among the monovalent ions is based on size (Stokes radius). Chloride/fluoride selectivities are essentially constant over Cl-/F- feed ratios from 1 to 60, so these separations will be viable over a range of conditions. Interestingly, PSS/protonated poly(allylamine) films show little Cl-/F- selectivity, and the selectivity of PSS/PDADMAC membranes is a strong function of the number of deposited layers, indicating that NF properties are very sensitive to film structure.     

High-flux nanofiltration membranes prepared by adsorption of multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes on polymeric supports

Layer-by-layer deposition of anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes readily converts polymeric ultrafiltration membranes into materials capable of nanofiltration. ATR-FTIR spectra confirm that layer-by-layer deposition occurs on the ultrafiltration substrates, and adsorption of as few as 2.5 bilayers of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/protonated poly(allylamine) (PAH) or 3.5 bilayers of PSS/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) reduces the molecular weight cutoff of polyethersulfone ultrafiltration supports from 50 kDa to <500 Da. Deposition of multilayer polyelectrolyte films on 300 and 500 kDa membranes also decreases molecular weight cutoffs, but solute rejections are significantly lower when using these supports, suggesting that the polyelectrolyte films do not completely cover large (0.2-0.4 microm in diameter) pores. On the 50 kDa substrates, PSS/PDADMAC films containing 3.5 bilayers exhibit a 95% rejection of SO(4)(2-) and a chloride/sulfate selectivity of 27, whereas 4.5-bilayer PSS/PAH coatings show a glucose/raffinose selectivity of 100. Pure water flux for [PSS/PAH](3)PSS-coated membranes at 4.8 bar is 1.6 m(3)/(m(2)day), which is more than 2-fold higher than that through a commercial 500 Da membrane.     

Interaction and aggregation of lipid vesicles (DLVO theory versus modified DLVO theory)

Interaction and aggregation of acidic phospholipid (phosphatidylserine) vesicles were studied with variation of cation species and their concentrations in vesicle suspensions, and of vesicle sizes. Aggregation was determined by measuring turbidity of vesicle suspension. The experimental results of aggregation of vesicles induced by monovalent cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺ and TMA⁺) were explained well in terms of the interaction energy of two interacting vesicles using the ordinary Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory for both small and large lipid vesicles. However, the experimental results of aggregation of vesicles induced by divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺) were not explained by the ordinary DLVO theory. In order to explain the experimental results of these vesicle aggregation phenomena, it was necessary to modify the theory by including hydration interaction energies which are due to hydrated water at membrane surfaces, and their magnitude and sign depend upon the nature (hydrophobicity) of the membrane surface.     

Histidine as a dipolar eluent component in cation chromatography: II. Prediction of retention data for alkaline and alkaline-earth ions

The utility of cation chromatography has been developed by the application of -histidine as a multiprotic and dipolar (zwitterionic) eluent component. The method simplifies the cation analysis. The chromatographic characteristics of this system were studied in detail with a view to determining the selectivity and the mechanism by which the cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) are retained. Complete separations were observed in the isocratic run over the eluent concentration range 3.0–6.0 mM at pH below 2.0. Sensitive detection was achieved using suppressed conductivity at the pH of isoelectric point of the histidine. Retention equations are derived for mono- and divalent cations eluted from ion-exchange separation column with multiple ionic eluents. The theory is based on the extension of ion-exchange equilibrium by protonation equilibria. The selectivity data for analyte and eluent species are determined using the model from the experimental retention data by computer-assisted iterative calculations. The model was utilized to predict retention data. The results in three-dimensional retention surfaces together with species distribution graphs are presented.     

Studies of Permeabilities of Metallic Ions Through Crosslinked Chitosan Membranes

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Controlling the nanofiltration properties of multilayer polyelectrolyte membranes through variation of film composition

We report the use of a variety of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) as selective skins in composite membranes for nanofiltration (NF) and diffusion dialysis. Deposition of PEMs occurs through simple alternating adsorption of polycations and polyanions, and separations can be optimized by varying the constituent polyelectrolytes as well as deposition conditions. In general, the use of polycations and polyanions with lower charge densities allows separation of larger analytes. Depending on the polyelectrolytes employed, PEM membranes can remove salt from sugar solutions, separate proteins, or allow size-selective passage of specific sugars. Additionally, because of the minimal thickness of PEMs, NF pure water fluxes through these membranes typically range from 1.5 to 3 m3/(m2 day) at 4.8 bar. Specifically, to separate sugars, we employed poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) films, which allow 42% passage of glucose along with a 98% rejection of raffinose and a pure water flux of 2.4 m3/(m2 day). PSS/PDADMAC membranes are also capable of separating NaCl and sucrose (selectivity of approximately 10), while high-flux chitosan/hyaluronic acid membranes [pure water flux of 5 m3/(m2 day) at 4.8 bar] may prove useful in protein separations.     

Infrared spectroscopic study of solid films of poly(ethylene glycol) doped with cations

The infrared spectra of solid films, prepared on a silicon plate of poly(ethylene glycol) doped with various cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺), have been measured. The spectral analysis indicates that the films are non-crystalline and essentially amorphous. The polymer chain is significantly disordered by assuming diverse conformational states. The interaction between the ether oxygens of the polymer and the cation, as estimated from the C---O stretching wavenumber, is correlated to the size of the cation; the interaction is stronger for the cation with larger size.     

十二烷基苯磺酸钠和无机阳离子之间相互作用的密度泛函理论研究

研究阴离子表面活性剂和阳离子之间的相互作用对于理解阴离子表面活性剂的沉淀和溶解现象具有十分重要的理论和实际意义,但关于两者相互作用的相关理论模型鲜有报道。本文采用密度泛函理论(DFT)方法研究了十二烷基苯磺酸根阴离子(DBS^-)与阳离子(Na⁺, Mg²⁺和Ca²⁺)在溶液内及气/液界面处的相互作用。在溶液内,在两种不同溶液环境中(水相和正十二烷)构建DBS^-/阳离子相互作用模型,并对其进行优化。结果表明, DBS^-能够与阳离子以双齿结构稳定结合。DBS^-与阳离子的结合能不仅取决于参与的无机盐离子种类,还与溶剂的性质有关。在气/液界面处, DBS^-与六个水分子相互作用形成的水合物DBS^-·6H₂O最为稳定。但是,无机盐离子的引入会严重破坏DBS^-·6H₂O水合物的水化层结构。本文定义无量纲参量def用来对水化层结构的变化程度进行评价。无机盐离子对DBS^-·6H₂O水化层结构破坏程度的顺序为:Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ >Na⁺。电荷分析结果表明水化层在十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)头基与阳离子的相互作用中起了重要作用。     

Electrokinetic characterization of a microporous non-commercial polysulfone membrane: phenomenological coefficients and transport parameters

Electrical and electrokinetic phenomena (electrical resistance, streaming potential and membrane potential) in a porous polysulfone membrane was studied in the framework of the linear thermodynamics of irreversible processes and the phenomenological coefficients were determined for different concentrations of NaCl and MgCl₂ solutions (10⁻³M<5×10⁻²M). From experimental values, other characteristic membrane parameters such as the concentration of fixed charge in the membrane (=−3×10⁻³M), the ionic transport numbers and permeabilities through the membrane (t(Na⁺)=0.392 and t(Mg⁺²)=0.363; P(Na⁺)=3.5×l0⁻⁸m/sec and P(Mg⁺²)=2.9×10⁻⁸m/sec) were also obtained. Membrane surface-electrolyte solution interface was characterized by zeta potential values. The effect of both salt concentration and pH on zeta potential results was also studied.     

Tripodal lipophilic ionophores: synthesis, cation binding and transport through liquid membranes

New C₃-symmetric lipophilic tripodal ionophores, Et(CH₂OCH₂COR)₃; R=NMePh (1), R=NEtPh (2), R=piperidyl (3), have been prepared and their binding abilities for alkali and alkaline earth metal cations evaluated by extraction equilibrium and cation transport through bulk liquid membranes. Experiments show that these ionophores have considerable potential for transporting lithium, sodium and calcium ions relative to potassium and magnesium ions. The cation transport rates by ionophores 1 and 2 decrease in the order Li⁺>Na⁺>Ca²⁺>Ba²⁺>K⁺>Mg²⁺, and the selectivities of Li⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ are 6.47–7.24, 6.05–6.19 and 9.39–16.13, respectively. The extraction selectivity sequences of the ionophores 1 and 2 are in agreement with the descending order of the cation transport rate, and the complexation constants in chloroform phase were estimated.     

Ion chromatography of organic-rich natural waters from peatlands II. Na, NH4, K, Mg and Ca

Organic rich natural waters from peat bogs in continental (Switzerland) and maritime (Shetland Islands, Scotland) environments were analysed for Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ using ion chromatography. These cations were determined simultaneously in surface and pore water samples from the continental bogs using a 250-μl injection loop in an isocratic separation. Using this loop, detection limits of the order of 1 ng/g were achieved. An organics-removal cartridge (Dionex OnGuard P) was used to remove humic materials. Analyses of deionized water filtered through these cartridges showed acceptably low blank values (e.g., ca. 5 ng/g) and appeared to have no significant effect on the measured cation concentration. For the maritime bog waters, the low concentrations of NH₄⁺ (ca. 1 μg/g) compared with Na⁺ (ca. 100 μg/g) required improved peak separation. This was accomplished using a gradient separation beginning with 40 mM HCl—1 mM , -2,3-diaminopropionic acid monochloride (DAP) and switching to 40 mM HCl-12 mM DAP after 2 min. Using a 25 μl injection loop, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were determined simultaneously in less than 25 min. In this instance, even with Na⁺/NH₄⁺ > 100, there was no interference from Na⁺ in the determination of NH₄⁺ (baseline separated).     

Simultaneous separation of common mono- and divalent cations on silica gel modified with aluminium by non-suppressed ion chromatography with conductimetric detection and nitric acid–15-crown-5 as eluent

The modification of silica gel with aluminium by a coating method was very effective for the preparation of silica-based stationary phases which acted as a cation exchanger under strongly acidic conditions. However, the separation of common mono- and divalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) on an aluminium-adsorbing silica (Al-Silica) column was moderate by a conductimetric detection ion chromatography (IC) with strongly acidic eluents. Then, the addition of various crown ethers (12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6) in acidic eluent was carried out. As a result, it was found that 15-crown-5 was most effective for the improvement of peak resolution. Excellent separation of these cations was achieved in 20 min by elution with 2 mM nitric acid–2 mM 15-crown-5. The proposed IC was successfully applied to the determination of major cations in various natural waters.     

Oligomycin A complex structures with some divalent metal cations studied by ESI MS and PM5 semiempirical methods

The ability of Oligomycin A (OLA) to form complexes with monovalent cations was studied by the ESI mass spectrometry and PM5 semiempirical method. At low cone voltage values the ESI MS spectra indicate that OLA formes stable 1:1 complexes with Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺ divalent cations irrespective of the stoichiometry. With increasing cone voltages the formation of the [OLA + M + (ClO₄ or Cl)]⁺ complexes was preferred. This process occurred simultaneously with the formation of fragmentary metal cation complexes with the exception of Pb²⁺ ions which does not form complexes with OLA molecule. PM5 semiempirical calculations allowed the visualizations of all structures of (OLA + M)²⁺ and [OLA + M + (ClO₄or Cl)]⁺ complexes as well as the fragmentary cations.     

Effect of saline groundwater on the aggregation and settling of suspended particles in a turbid Australian river

Laboratory studies have modelled the interaction of Darling River water and a saline groundwater intrusion. Kinetic measurements have shown that the rate determining step in water column clarification is the aggregation of small colloidal particles which then settle rapidly after reaching a critical diameter. Divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) are extremely effective in enhancing the rate of clarification by increasing the colloid stability factor. Three different phases have been observed in the cation-mediated removal of iron from solution: (i) rapid coagulation induced by the initial velocity shear resulting from solution mixing; (ii) a slower second-order iron removal, consistent with conventional aggregation kinetics; and (iii) a decrease in rate after 90% iron removal which is attributed to a lower iron content in the ultrafine colloid fraction. Specific interactions between the divalent cations and the organic coatings on the particles are proposed in order to explain the much higher rate of coagulation than expected on electrostatic grounds when compared with the monovalent Na⁺ and K⁺.

Water column clarification occurred more rapidly in these model laboratory studies than was observed in the Darling River weir pool. Iron removal rates in the river tend to be inhibited by hydrological effects. Turbulence inducing processes are required to mix the dense saline groundwater with the overlying water column and thus may ultimately limit the rate of turbidity reduction.     

Ion-exchange properties of hypercrosslinked polystyrene impregnated with methyl orange

A novel bipolar stationary phase (HCPS–MO) was prepared by impregnation of hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HCPS) with methyl orange (MO; 4-dimethylamino-4′-sulfoazobenzene) and its ion-exchange properties were studied. Simultaneous separation of cations and anions on HCPS–MO is possible, although it behaves preferentially as a cation-exchanger. Unusual selectivity of HCPS-MO for alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations: Na⁺+K⁺+4⁺+ and Mg²⁺2+2+2+ was observed. The effect of temperature on retention of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations was studied. Separation of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, NH₄⁺, Cs⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ on HCPS–MO with diluted cerium(III) nitrate solution as an eluent in single run is presented.     

Polyelectrolyte multilayers on wood fibers: influence of molecular weight on layer properties and mechanical properties of papers from treated fibers

This paper compares the influence of the molecular weight of polylelectrolytes forming polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) on wood fibers on adhesion and paper strength. Sheets were made from fibers treated with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) of molecular mass 70,000 and 240,000, respectively, and of poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) of molecular mass 30,000 and 80,000, respectively. The results were compared to what has recently been reported for PEM formation on fibers using a low-molecular-mass combination of PAH and PAA and a high-molecular-mass combination of PDADMAC/PSS. There was a less significant improvement in the case of the low-molecular-mass PDADMAC/PSS and the high-molecular-mass PAH/PAA. The adsorbed amounts of PAH and PDADMAC were also determined, showing a lower adsorbed amount of the low-molecular-mass PAH than of the high-molecular-mass PDADMAC. The amount of low-molecular-mass PDADMAC was similar to that found for high-molecular-mass PDADMAC/PSS. Individual fibers were partly treated and studied, showing a less significant decrease in wettability with low-molecular-mass PDADMAC/PSS than with the high-molecular-mass combination. The effect of the molecular weight on the adhesion was discussed in terms of the structure and wettability of the PEMs.     

钙离子和镁离子浓度变化对磷脂酰乙醇胺-磷脂酰甘油双分子层膜的影响

Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions are the main divalent cations in living cells and play vital roles in the structure and function of biological membranes. To date, the differences in the effects of these two ions on the Escherichia coli (E. coli) inner membrane at various concentrations remain unknown. Here, the effects of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions on a mixed lipid bilayer composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) in a 3 : 1 ratio (mol/mol), which mimics the E. coli inner membrane, were quantitatively differentiated at different concentrations by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements and all-atom molecular dynamics (AA-MD) simulations. The DLS results demonstrated that the POPE/POPG liposomes were homogeneous and monodisperse in solutions with Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ion concentrations of 0 and 1 mmol∙L^-1. As the Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ion concentration was increased to 5-100 mmol∙L^-1, lipid aggregation or the fusion of unilamellar liposomes occurred in the ion solutions. The zeta potential measurements showed that both the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions had overcharging effects on the negatively charged POPE/POPG liposomes. The AA-MD simulation results indicated that the Ca²⁺ ions irreversibly adsorbed on the membranes when the simulation time was longer than 100 ns, while the Mg²⁺ ions were observed to dynamically adsorb on and desorb from the membranes at various concentrations. These results are consistent with the DLS and zeta potential experiments. The average numbers of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions in the first coordination shell of the oxygen atoms of the phosphate, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups of POPE and POPG (i.e., the first coordination numbers) in the pure membrane and membranes containing 5 and 100 mmol∙L^-1 ions were calculated from the radial distribution functions. The results indicated that the primary binding site of these two ions on POPE and POPG at the concentrations studied was the negatively charged phosphate group. Thus, these results might explain the overcharging effects of both the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions on the POPE/POPG liposomes. Moreover, as the Ca²⁺ concentration increased, the area per lipid of the lipid bilayers decreased, and the membrane thickness increased, while the Mg²⁺ ions had negligible effects on these membrane parameters. In addition, these ions had different effects on the orientation of the lipid head groups. These simulation results may be used to provide the possible explanations for the differences between Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions in DLS and zeta potential measurements at the atomic level. The experimental results and MD simulations provide insight into various biological processes regulated by divalent cations, such as membrane fusion.     

Simultaneous separation of common mono- and divalent cations on a zirconium-modified silica gel column by ion chromatography with non-suppressed conductimetric detection and tartaric acid–15-crown-5 as eluent

The application of laboratory-made zirconium-modified silica gels (Zr-silicas) as cation-exchange stationary phases to ion chromatography with conductimetric detection (IC–CD) for common mono- and divalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) was carried out. Zr-silicas were prepared by the reaction of the silanol group on the surface of silica gel with zirconium tetrabutoxide (Zr(OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)₄) in ethanol. Zr-silica adsorbed on 10 mg zirconium g⁻¹ silica gel was a suitable cation-exchange stationary phase in IC–CD for the separation of these mono- and divalent cations. Excellent simultaneous separation and highly sensitive detection for these cations were achieved in 10 min by IC–CD using a Zr-silica column (150×4.6 mm I.D.) and 10 mM tartaric acid containing 10 mM 15-crown-5 (1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane) as the eluent. The proposed IC–CD method was successfully applied to the determination of major mono- and divalent cations in natural water samples.     

拉曼光谱法研究Na+, Mg2+//SO42-, Cl-, H2O四元体系中SO42-离子缔合结构特征及其变化规律

复杂水盐体系存在稳态和介稳固液相平衡以及复杂的成盐规律。为了解固液平衡状态下液相的结构特征,本文采用拉曼光谱技术并结合高斯-洛伦兹去卷积分峰拟合程序对Na⁺, Mg²⁺//SO₄^2-, Cl^-, H₂O四元体系及其二元和三元子体系中ν₁-SO₄^2-的离子缔合结构特征进行了分析。研究结果表明:SO₄^2-在Na₂SO₄-H₂O体系存在自由态SO₄^2-和SO₄^2-离子簇两种结构,在MgSO₄-H₂O, MgSO₄-MgCl₂-H₂O及Na⁺, Mg²⁺//SO₄^2-, Cl^-, H₂O等含镁体系中,还有Mg²⁺-H₂O-SO₄^2-和Mg²⁺-OSO₃^2-两种缔合结构。在二元和三元体系中ν₁-SO₄^2-的离子缔合结构以自由态SO₄^2-为主,随着SO₄^2-离子总浓度的变化,上述四种结构所占比例会发生规律性变化。Na⁺, Mg²⁺//SO₄^2-, Cl^-, H₂O四元体系在NaCl减少及等温蒸发过程中,自由态SO₄^2-结构比例逐步降低, Mg²⁺和SO₄^2-相结合形成Mg²⁺-H₂O-SO₄^2-或Mg²⁺-OSO₃^2-结构的机会增多,在复盐区还会形成SO₄^2-离子簇结构。由此判断溶液结构的适应性变化是导致介稳现象的重要原因。进一步的相关分析表明:SO₄^2-的浓度和耶涅克指数J与ν₁-SO₄^2-峰的峰强度和峰面积存在正相关关系, Mg²⁺浓度是影响ν₁-SO₄^2-峰中四种缔合结构的比例发生变化的主要因素。     

淀粉-磺甲基化聚丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物的合成及性能

用淀粉-聚丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物(S-g-PAM)同多聚甲醛及亚硫酸钠反应,合成了淀粉-磺甲基化聚丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物(S-g-SPAM)。该磺化物的水溶液在试验浓度范围内(0.1～1.0％),为假塑性流体,对高岭土悬浮液的絮凝,由沉降速度,上层清液相对吸光度可知,S-g-SPAM(接枝链分子量为1.03×10⁵,磺甲基化度30％)的絮凝能力优于相应的未磺化的S-g-PAM,也比聚丙烯酰胺(分子量2.5×10⁶)强。