Ultrafiltration membranes from polysulfone and sulfonated polysulfone in metal ions dialysis enhanced by polyelectrolyte

The dialysis of metal ions including Mg(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) through ultrafiltration membranes made of polysulfone and sulfonated polysulfone was enhanced by sodium salt of poly(acrylic acid) diluted in the receiving compartment. In experiments, concentration of Mg(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) in the feed solution was equal to 10-3 mol/dm3, concentration of polymer in the receiving solution was equal to 10-2 mol/dm3, and pH = 9. In the presence of complexing polymer, concentration of all metal ions in the receiving solution is higher than 50% for the polysulfone membrane and increases to almost 100% for the sulfonated polysulfone membrane. This effect is due to a cation-exchange property of the sulfonated polysulfone membrane.