Hyperbranched Chelating Polymers for the Polymer-Assisted Ultrafiltration of Boric Acid

Abstract

Two hyperbranched chelating polymers, glucoheptonamide derivatives of dendrimeric poly(amido amine) and poly(ethylene imine), were employed in polymer-assisted ultrafiltration and concentration of boron from aqueous feed streams. For feeds containing approximately 1 mM B (10 ppm), volume reduction factors of 20 were observed in cyclic adsorption–desorption. The concentrations of both polymers declined due to permeation through an ultrafiltration membrane with pore sizes which should have retained them. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the amide linkages between the polymer backbone and the chelating side groups is implicated in this loss of polymer mass and effectiveness.