Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) transfer through charged polysulfonated cation exchange membranes

The transport of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions through charged polysulfonated ion exchange membranes under Donnan dialysis conditions has been studied as a function of pH gradient at 25°C. In the Donnan dialysis process, the membrane is bounded by two electrolyte solutions, the one side (donor phase) initially containing metal salts and the other H2SO4 with no external potential field applied. The transport of metal ions through membranes was correlated with the flux data as well as with estimated diffusion coefficients and was found to depend on the interaction between the fixed groups in the membrane and the metal ions. It was observed that the pH gradient influences the transport of metals and the flux of ions increases with H ion concentration in the receiver phase. (C) 2000 Academic Press.