Surface glycosylation of polysulfone membrane towards a novel complexing membrane for boron removal

In this study, a novel complexing membrane was synthesized for boron removal from aqueous solution. A glycopolymer, poly(2-gluconamidoethyl methacrylate) (PGAMA), was grafted onto the chloromethylated polysulfone (CMPSF) microporous membrane via surface-initiated ATRP (SIATRP). The glycosylated PSF (GlyPSF) membrane was characterized by attenuated total refection-Flourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). It was demonstrated that PGAMA was successfully anchored onto the membrane surface and the grafting yield can be tuned in a wide range up to 5.9 mg/cm(2) by varying the polymerization time. The complexing membrane can adsorb boron rapidly with the equilibrium reached within 2h and has a remarkable high boron adsorption capacity higher than 2.0 mmol/g at optimized conditions. Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption isotherms were applied, and the data were best described by Langmuir model. Kinetic data were analyzed, and the data fitted very well to the pseudo-second-order rate expression. The optimal pH for boron uptake is in a wide range of 6-9, and the optimal initial boron concentration is over 300 mg/L. Studies of ionic strength effects indicated the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. The complexed boron can be leached quantitatively under acid condition.