| Abstract: | Reverse osmosis separation for many kinds of polar organic solutes (alcohols, phenols, monocarboxylic acids, amines, and ketones) was examined by an anionic charged composite membrane. The solute permeation was carried out in single-solute aqueous solution (200 mg/L) under applied pressure of 7.88 MPa at 25°C. The correlation between the solute rejection and polar parameters for these organic solutes have been investigated. For n-alkyl alcohols, monocarboxylic acids, and ketones, the solute rejection increases with molecular weight and/or molecular branching. For undissociable polar organic solutes such as alcohols and ketones, solute rejections are closely related with the Taft's number. For dissociable polar organic solutes, solute rejections depend greatly upon the dissociation constant and the degree of dissociation of solute. This membrane showed higher rejection (80%) for phenol in an undissociated state at a 98% rejection level of NaCl. Also, rejections of phenolic derivatives depend upon the pH value of the feed solution and the polar effect of substituted groups. For acetic acid and methylamine, the solute rejection increases proportionally to the degree of dissociation of solute. From these facts, the main factors in reverse-osmosis separation by an anionic composite membrane are discussed. |
