Selective Transport of Ag(I) through a Polymer Inclusion Membrane Containing a Calix[4]pyrrole Derivative from Nitrate Aqueous Solutions.

Cellulose-triacetate-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) with different concentrations of a calixpyrrole ester derivative as the membrane carrier were studied to determine their ability to transport Ag(I) from aqueous nitrate solutions. The effects of the concentrations of ion carriers and metal ions, the pH of the source aqueous phase, and stripping agents on the effective transport of Ag(I) were assessed. All studied parameters were found to be important factors for the transport of Ag(I) metal ions. The initial fluxes were determined at different temperatures. The prepared membranes were found to be highly permeable. The selectivity of silver transport from an aqueous solution containing Ag(I), Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and Co(II) ions was also investigated.

Removal of Pb(II) Ions Using Polymer Inclusion Membranes Containing Calix[4]resorcinarene Derivative as Ion Carrier.

Stricter environmental regulations regarding the discharge of toxic metals require developing various technologies for the removal of these metals from polluted effluents. The removal of toxic metal ions using immobilized membranes with doped ligands is a promising approach for enhancing environmental quality, because of the high selectivity and removal efficiency, high stability, and low energy requirements of the membranes. Cellulose triacetate-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), with calix[4]resorcinarene derivative as an ion carrier, were analyzed to determine their ability for removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The effects of ion carrier concentration, plasticizer amount, pH of source aqueous phase, and receiving agents on the effective transport of Pb(II) were determined. All studied parameters were found to be important factors for the transport of Pb(II) ions. The PIM containing calix[4]resorcinarene derivative as an ion carrier showed high stability and excellent transport activity for selective removal of Pb(II) from the battery industry effluent, with a separation efficiency of 90%.

Selective removal of silver(i) using polymer inclusion membranes containing calixpyrroles.

This paper discusses the results of studies on the transport of Ag(i) across polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), derivatives of calixpyrroles with methyl (KP1) and carboxyl (KP2) groups, as ion carriers, o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether (o-NPPE) as a plasticizer and cellulose triacetate (CTA) as support. The influence of the pH of the source phase, metal concentration, stripping phase as well as carrier and plasticizer concentration on the efficiency of Ag(i) transport through PIM is presented. Long-term experiments with a supported liquid membrane and a plasticizer membrane demonstrate the durability of the studied PIMs. The obtained results indicate that the competitive transport of Cu(ii), Zn(ii), Ag(i) and Cd(ii) from the aqueous nitrate source phase through KP1 and KP2 is an effective separation method for Ag(i) ions. The prepared PIMs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques.

Immobilized materials for removal of toxic metal ions from surface/groundwaters and aqueous waste streams.

Heavy metals from industrial processes are of special concern because they produce chronic poisoning in the aquatic environment. More strict environmental regulations on the discharge of toxic metals require the development of various technologies for their removal from polluted streams (i.e. industrial wastewater, mine waters, landfill leachate, and groundwater). The separation of toxic metal ions using immobilized materials (novel sorbents and membranes with doped ligands), due to their high selectivity and removal efficiency, increased stability, and low energy requirements, is promising for improving the environmental quality. This critical review is aimed at studying immobilized materials as potential remediation agents for the elimination of numerous toxic metal (e.g. Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) ions from polluted streams. This study covers the general characteristics of immobilized materials and separation processes, understanding of the metal ion removal mechanisms, a review of the application of immobilized materials for the removal of toxic metal ions, as well as the impacts of various parameters on the removal efficiency. In addition, emerging trends and opportunities in the field of remediation technologies using these materials are addressed.

Removal of toxic metal ions from landfill leachate by complementary sorption and transport across polymer inclusion membranes.

In this study, performance of a lab-scale two-step treatment system was evaluated for removal of toxic metal ions from landfill leachate. The technology of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was the first step, while the second step of the treatment system was based on sorption on impregnated resin. The PIMs were synthesized from cellulose triacetate as a support, macrocyclic compound i.e. alkyl derivative of resorcinarene as a ionic carrier and o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether as a plasticizer. The transport experiments through PIM were carried out in a permeation cell, in which the membrane film was tightly clamped between two cell compartments. The sorption tests were carried out using a column filled with a resin impregnated with resorcinarene derivative. The obtained results show the good performance with respect to the removal of heavy metals from landfill leachate with the overall removal efficiency of 99%, 88% and 55% for Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions, respectively. Moreover the contents of metal ions in the leachate sample after treatment system were below permissible limit for wastewater according to the Polish Standards.

Removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions by polymer inclusion membranes.

The transport through polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was found as the effective and selective method of chromium(VI) anions removal from chloride acidic aqueous solutions. The optimal PIMs content was as follows: 41 wt% of cellulose triacetate as the support, 23 wt% of tri-n-octylamine as the ionic carrier, and 36 wt% of o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether as the plasticizer. The results obtained show a linear decrease of permeability coefficient and initial flux values with source phase pH increase. Also linear decrease of initial flux in log-log scale with chromium(VI) concentration increase was observed. Value of slope of this relationship was found to be 0.96 which indicates a first order of chromium(VI) reaction with tri-n-octylamine at membrane/aqueous source interface. Transport of chromium(VI) through PIMs reduces the concentration of chromium(VI) in source aqueous phase from 1.0 to 0.0028 ppm, which is below permissible limit in drinking water in Poland. Competitive transport of chromium(VI), cadmium(II), zinc(II), and iron(III) from acidic aqueous solution across PIMs was found to be efficient for chromium(VI) (99%), and cadmium(II) (99%).

Artificial Neural Networks-Modern Systems for Safety Control.

A short review of the applications of artificial neural networks in different fields of industry with a description of their main properties is made. Such systems have specific properties typical for the human brain, which can decide on the superiority of artificial neural networks over standard control systems. Basic types of such networks as well as their principles of operation and successful applications are described. The application of artificial neural networks in safety engineering is discussed with stress on their special properties, which are necessary in safety critical systems.