•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

composite teflon, polymer, ion chromatography suppressors

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract

Ion chromatography (IC) has a need for a suppressor which would allow the simultaneous conductitnetric detection of both cations and anions. Such a suppressor’s membrane would need to exhibit a large flux and a high level of selectivity. Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMS) containing macrocycles have been shown to exhibit high selectivity over a long period of time. The structure of the macrocycle 1 determines the affinity these Ugands exhibit toward cations. By completing metal salts, the macrocycles are able to extract ionic species into solvents that these metal salts would not be soluble in alone. The macrocycle can then transport a cation for which it has specific affinity through a nonpolar media to a receiving phase where the cation may be released. This process can be driven by employing a proton-ionizable macrocycle. However, such polymer inclusion membranes have not exhibited the high levels of proton flux which would be required in a suppressor membrane. Current suppressors employ sulfonated teflon membranes which allow enormous proton flux. The aim of my research has been to construct and investigate a composite membrane that could be utilized in a suppressor for IC. Such a composite membrane would need the high found in sulfonated teflon membranes and the selectivity of PIMS.

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS