Abstract

In the current research water-soluble functional polymers (WSFP) were prepared via radical polymerization and purified by fractionation through ultrafiltration membranes with different molecular weights cut off (MWCO) of 30 and 100 kDa. The WSFPs were poly(3-acrylamide propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, P(ClAPTA), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sodium sulfonate, P(AMPSNa), and poly(3-methacrylamino propyl) dimethyl 3-sulfopropyl ammonium hydroxide, P(HMPDSPA). These polymers were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Using liquid-phase polymer-based retention technique (LPR), chromium [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] retention was studied as a function of pH, polymer and chromium concentration, selectivity, maximum retention capacity, chromium elution capacity, and polymer regeneration through sorption and desorption studies. Results of FT-IR showed the characteristic absorption bands of the synthesized polymers. The decomposition temperatures of P(ClAPTA) were at 303.1 degrees C, and for P(AMPSNa) three decompositions temperatures were registered at 190.5 degrees C, 223.2 degrees C, and 304.8 degrees C. P(HMPDSPA) presented two important decomposition temperatures at 292.4 degrees C and 391.7 degrees C, respectively. Concerning to the retention of Cr(VI), it was maximal (100 %) when P(ClAPTA) was studied at pH 6. The maximum retention of Cr(III) (100 %) was achieved by P(AMPSNa) at pH 3. The optimum polymer:Cr mole ratio obtained was 10:1 for both Cr(VI) and Cr(III). The retention of Cr(VI) decreased due to the presence of interfering ions, and the hydrodynamic flow was almost constant during the ultrafiltration of polymer-Cr macromolecule.