Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing purified dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNS): Performance and selectivity

Abstract

The use of purified dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (DNNS) as extractant in polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was investigated for the first time. DNNS is commonly supplied in 50 wt% water soluble diluent, which when applied in PIMs is expected to affect their stability. Purified and commercial DNNS were characterised by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometric detection. PIMs prepared with the purified DNNS reagent containing the same amount of membrane liquid phase as the commercial DNNS-based PIMs were able to accommodate more DNNS than the PIMs incorporating the commercial product which conta..