Effect of cross-linking on the performance of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) for the extraction, transport and separation of Zn(II)

Abstract

This study demonstrated the advantages of cross-linking of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) in terms of improved stability, rate of extraction and extractive capacity. These advantages were illustrated with the new cross-linked PIM for the selective extraction of Zn(II), developed as part of this study and containing bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as the carrier (extractant). Three different base-polymers were tested, namely poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and cellulose triacetate (CTA), using poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG-DMA) as the cross-linking polymer and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone (DMPA) as the i..