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Polyvinyl alcohol-boronate gel for sodium hydroxide extraction
Gretchen Marie Peters1, Xiaodong Chi, Chandler Brockman
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E. 24th Street Stop A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, USA. sessler@cm.utexas.edu.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|April 18, 2018
Summary
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 1,4-benzene diboronic acid (BdBA) gels efficiently remove sodium hydroxide (NaOH) from water, lowering the solution's pH. This demonstrates their potential for chemical absorption applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a versatile synthetic polymer with numerous applications.
- Diboronic acids are known for their ability to form reversible covalent bonds with diols.
- Efficient methods for removing alkaline substances from aqueous solutions are crucial for various industrial and environmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 1,4-benzene diboronic acid (BdBA) gels in absorbing sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
- To evaluate the impact of this absorption on the pH of an aqueous solution.
Main Methods:
- Formation of PVA/BdBA gels in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
- Exposure of the gels to a bulk aqueous solution containing NaOH.
- Monitoring of the solution's pH change over time to quantify NaOH absorption.
Main Results:
- The PVA/BdBA gels demonstrated efficient absorption of NaOH from the aqueous solution.
- A significant decrease in the solution's pH was observed, indicating effective neutralization.
- The gel's ability to absorb NaOH was confirmed through pH measurements.
Conclusions:
- PVA/BdBA gels are effective materials for absorbing NaOH from aqueous solutions.
- These gels offer a promising approach for pH control and chemical scavenging in water treatment.
- The study highlights the potential of functionalized PVA gels in environmental remediation applications.
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