Application of UV-synthesized anion exchange membranes to improve nickel removal through galvanic deposition process

Abstract

Nickel removal from sodium chloride solution has been studied in an electrogenerative cell and the effect of synthesized anion exchange membranes on the galvanic deposition process was investigated. As shown, although in the absence of the membranes, the highest electrical potential of 0.985 volts was achieved, nickel removal efficiency was the lowest. On the other hand, electrical potential as high as 0.976 volts was achieved from the galvanic cell when the UV-curable membrane was employed between the two galvanic cell compartments. Using such electrogenerative process facilitated by the advanced anion exchange membranes, 37.2% of nickel ions were spontaneously removed from a solution of 0.04 M NaCl containing 100 ppm initial nickel ions. Furthermore, the introduced UV-synthesized membranes revealed to have a rigid polymer network and sufficient mechanical and thermal stability with tensile strength of 26.9 MPa and degradation temperature of 415 °C.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Anion exchange membrane
• UV-curable membrane
• electrogenerative process
• galvanic cell
• nickel removal

Acknowledgments

We would like to show our pleasure to Iran’s National Elites Foundation for providing financial grants to support this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Iran’s National Elites Foundation.