Aqueous Sulfate Separation by Crystallization of Sulfate–Water Clusters

An effective approach to sulfate separation from aqueous solutions is based on the crystallization of extended [SO₄(H₂O)₅²⁻]_n sulfate–water clusters with a bis(guanidinium) ligand. The ligand was generated in situ by hydrazone condensation in water, thereby bypassing the need for elaborate syntheses, tedious purifications, and organic solvents. Crystallization of sulfate–water clusters represents an alternative approach to the now established sulfate separation strategies that involve encapsulation of the “naked” anion.     

Aqueous Sulfate Separation by Sequestration of [(SO4)2(H2O)4]4− Clusters within Highly Insoluble Imine‐Linked Bis‐Guanidinium Crystals

Selective crystallization of sulfate with a simple bis‐guanidinium ligand, self‐assembled in situ from terephthalaldehyde and aminoguanidinium chloride, was employed as an effective way to separate the highly hydrophilic sulfate anion from aqueous solutions. The resulting bis‐iminoguanidinium sulfate salt has exceptionally low aqueous solubility (K_sp=2.4×10^?10), comparable to that of BaSO₄. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis showed the sulfate anions are sequestered as [(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄]^4? clusters within the crystals. Variable‐temperature solubility measurements indicated the sulfate crystallization is slightly endothermic (ΔH_cryst=3.7 kJ mol^?1), thus entropy driven. The real‐world utility of this crystallization‐based approach for sulfate separation was demonstrated by removing up to 99 % of sulfate from seawater in a single step.