Low-pressure reverse osmosis with modified polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membranes

The chemical modification of polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration (PAN-UF) membranes by hydroxylamine yields low-pressure reverse-osmosis (LP-RO) membranes containing amidoxime and hydroxamic acid groups besides nitrile groups. These membranes are positively charged at pH values of 4.0 to 6.5. The water permeability of the membranes decreases from 400 L h(-1) m(-2) to 15 L h(-1) m(-2)(p = 0.3 MPa) by this modification. A comprehensive characterization was carried out by retention curves, IR and NMR spectra, Hg porosimetry, measurement of membrane potentials and separation performance regarding different metal salts. Due to the Donnan exclusion these membranes have a retention of 88% at a filtrate flux of 8 L h(-1) m(-2)(p = 0.3 MPa) regarding bivalent metal ions like Ca2+ and Mg2+ which cause the water hardness. Regarding heavy metal ions like Cu2+ and In3+ much higher filtrate fluxes from 90 to 100 L h(-1) m(-2) (p = 0.3 MPa) are possible. In water medium without any heavy metal ions the amidoxime and hydroxamic acid groups are hydrolysed to carboxylic acid groups which are able to reject multivalent anions. By this the water softening ability remains.