We present herein the preparation of novel polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) containing insoluble β-CD polymer as a carrier, polyvinyl chloride as a base polymer, and dibuthylphtalate (DBP) as a plasticizer in varying proportions. The prepared PIMs can be obtained by a simple, fast, and high-yield preparation process. Physicochemical characterizations of such membranes occurred in a homogeneous structure. In addition, Fourier-transform infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis found that DBP was inserted between these polymeric chains by non-covalent interactions. This led to a spacing of PVC/poly(β-cyclodextrin) chains inducing a better access of guest molecules to PIM cyclodextrins. To achieve the elimination of ibuprofen and progesterone, two examples of emerging environmental contaminants that can lead to possible alterations to aquatic environments and affect human health, the effect of three operating parameters was studied (pH, the proportion of β-cyclodextrin polymer, and wastewater agitation). The proportion of β-cyclodextrin polymer and wastewater agitation had a favorable influence on drug extraction at 10 ppm. The PIMs containing β-cyclodextrin polymer was unstable in basic conditions and was more effective at acidic pH. These initial results demonstrate the high potential for drug extraction of this polymer.

In this study, polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) consisting of cellulose triacetate (CTA) as the base polymer, 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether as plasticizer, and tricaprylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) as carrier are used for removing the acid dye (red bordeaux acid and yellow erionyl) from aqueous solution. Extraction efficiency was studied under various experimental conditions, such as pH (2–9) of the aqueous solution, the concentration of extractant in the membrane (5–30 μmol/cm²), initial dye concentration (50–250 ppm), and the stirring speed (250–400 rpm). Under the optimized experimental conditions, 99% of dyes were extracted. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were used to study the equilibrium extraction data. The Langmuir equations have better regression coefficient (0.95, 0.95) than Freundlich (0.96, 0.904) and Temkin (0.873, 0.909) equation describing the acid dye extraction by the matrix CTA-Aliquat 336. The kinetic data were evaluated using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion model. The kinetic study’s results indicate that the process of removing acid dye by PIMs is described by pseudo-second-order model.

A new multiframe flat sheet membrane contactor module containing several flat membranes was designed and implemented. Each frame contains a chamber (central hole) in which the feed and the receiving phases are put in contact with polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/Aliquat-336 polymeric flat sheet membranes for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions (feed phase). To evaluate the efficiency of the system, the experimental design methodology was used to analyze the effect of temperature (T, °C), PVC/Aliquat-336 ratio, and Cr (VI) concentration in the feed phase and the concentration of sodium chloride (NaOH-NaCl) in the receiving phase. Two representative mathematical models of the two responses (extraction and back-extraction) were respectively obtained. A good correlation between the experimental results and those predicted (R_S² = 97.77 and R_R² = 97.87) was achieved, allowing the optimization of the different factors selected for each response, separately. The proposed system showed a good separation performance, leading to Cr(VI) extractions up to 93% when working at the optimized operating conditions.

This work focuses on the study of the mass transfer of arsenic(V) through asymmetric polyvinylidene fluoride hollow-fiber membrane contactors using Aliquat-336 as an extractant. In the first part of this work, the fibers were prepared and characterized by SEM and by determining their thickness and porosity. From SEM pictures, an asymmetric structure was obtained that was characterized by an inner sponge-like structure and outer finger-like structure with a pore radius and porosity about 0.11 µm and 80%, respectively. In the second part, the prepared fibers were used as membrane contactors for the study of mass transfer of arsenic(V), investigating the effect of several parameters such as pH, temperature, and initial concentration of the feed. The overall mass transfer coefficient of As(V) was around 6 × 10^–6 cm/s.