Comparative study of the uses of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride for the removal of perchlorate from aqueous solution by polyelectrolyte-enhanced ultrafiltration

An application of polyelectrolyte-enhanced ultrafiltration utilizes cationic polyelectrolytes to electrostatically bind anionic species. The colloid and target anion are then concentrated using an ultrafilter, producing a filtrate with a lower concentration of the target. This study compared the performances of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDADMAC) for the removal of perchlorate. Potentiometric titration data revealed that the ionization properties of P4VP in aqueous solution vary as functions of titrant utilized, degree of protonation, and counterion concentration. The greater affinity of perchlorate over chloride for the protonated pyridine residues of P4VP provided up to 95.8% retention of perchlorate under the solution conditions investigated. Through ultrafiltration experiments, the effects solution pH, counterion concentration, and polymer concentration were examined for both P4VP and PDADMAC. In addition, the effectiveness of P4VP recovery and reuse was also assessed.