Application of Polyelectrolyte-Enhanced Ultrafiltration for Rhenium Recovery from Aqueous Solutions

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 387 - 392
• Main Authors: Zeng, J., Li, S., Sun, X., Chen, X.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.02.2012; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Complexation; Exact sciences and technology; Membrane separation (reverse osmosis, dialysis...); Polyquaternium-6; Rhenium (VII); Ultrafiltration; Polyelectrolyte; Rejection; Membrane separation; Binding capacity; Purification; Ultrafiltration; Diafiltration; Complexing agent; Extract; Aqueous solution; Operating conditions; Concentrated solution
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201100454

Polyelectrolyte‐enhanced ultrafiltration was investigated for rhenium(VII) recovery from aqueous solutions by using polyquaternium‐6 (PQ6) as a complexing agent. The effects of the operating parameters on the permeate flux (J) and the rhenium rejection coefficient (R) were studied. In the process of concentration, J declines slowly and R is about 1. The concentrated solution was used for the decomplexation. It takes 10 min to achieve the decomplexation equilibrium at a chloride ion concentration of 100 mg L–1. The decomplexation percentage reaches 45.6 %. In the diafiltration process, rhenium is extracted effectively, and the purification of the regenerated PQ6 is satisfactory. The regenerated PQ6 was used to bind rhenium(VII). The binding capacity of the regenerated PQ6 is close to that of fresh PQ6. Polyelectrolyte‐enhanced ultrafiltration was originally used to achieve the recovery of rhenium from aqueous solutions with the help of polyquaternium‐6. The effects of various operating parameters on the permeate flux and the rhenium rejection coefficient were investigated. The integration of four experiments including concentration, decomplexation, diafiltration and reuse of the regenerated polymer was carried out.