Selective separation of Bisphenol A from aqueous solution using supported ionic liquid membrane

The objective of the present study was to remove of Bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solution using supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs). For SILM experiments polyvinyldene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was used as a support medium. In this work the preparation of SILM, transportation experiments, pH mechanism and percentage permeation were reported. Ionic liquids based on different cations such as phosphonium, imidazolium, ammonium and pyridinium were used. SILM experiments were carried out at 100 mg L−1 of initial concentration of BPA with and without pH control. Obtained results proved that % permeation of BPA from feed phase to receiving phase was 44% for [TBP][PF6] followed by 39.88% for [OMIM][PF6]. A Maximum of 62% permeation was obtained for [TBP][PF6] with pH control. The permeation rate followed the order: [TBP][PF6] > [C8MIM][PF6] > [C2DMIM][PF6] > [THTDP][Br] > [BTNH][BTA] > [TBTDP][BTMPP] > [THTDP][Cl] > [MTONH][Cl] > [BMPYR][BTA]. After 24 h of the experimentation weight loss of the membrane was noted to be 2% as a maximum, which confirms the good mechanical stability of the SILM. Effect of pH on membrane separation and its detailed mechanism was studied. Morphological and elemental analysis of membrane before and after the immobilization was also carried out.

► Supported liquid membrane was used to remove Bisphenol A from aqueous solutions.
► Ionic liquids were used as the membrane phase.
► Permeation rate was 44% for [TBP][PF6] followed by 39.88% for [OMIM][PF6].
► Maximum of 62% permeation was obtained for [TBP][PF6] with pH control.
► Stability of the SILM was found to be very good.