Cationic water-soluble polymers with the ability to remove arsenate through an ultrafiltration technique

Different cationic water‐soluble polymers with (R)4N+X− groups and pyridinium groups were prepared, and their arsenate retention performance was investigated with the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique. Poly[3‐(methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride, poly[2‐(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride, poly(ar‐vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride, poly[2‐(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methyl sulfate, poly(4‐vinyl‐1‐methyl pyridinium)bromide, and poly[3‐(methacryloylamino)propyl]dimethyl(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide were prepared. The synthesis of the polymers by solution radical polymerization produced a yield higher than 77%. Structural analyses were performed with Fourier transform infrared and 1H‐NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry. Commercial poly(4‐vinyl‐1‐methyl pyridinium)bromide and poly(ar‐vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride were also used. The liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique was employed to study the retention of arsenate species. The polymer structure and exchange groups, such as methyl sulfate, chloride, bromide, and hydroxide, presented different properties for removing arsenate anions from aqueous solutions. The type of voluminous quaternary ammonium group present influenced arsenic retention. All the polymers could bind HAsO42− species from an aqueous solution more selectively at pHs 8 and 6 than at pH 4. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007