Solubilization of trace organics in block copolymer micelles for environmental separation using membrane extraction principles

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6854227· OSTI ID:6854227

Hatton, T A

The solubilization of a range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in block copolymer micelles has been studied as a function of polymer composition, architecture, and temperature. Micelle formation is favored at high temperatures, leading to significant enhancements in solubilization capacity. At low temperatures, however, micelles do not form and the solubilization capacity of the block copolymer solution for the organics is low; this provides a convenient method for the regeneration of micellar solutions used as solvents'' in the treatment of contaminated feed streams using membrane extraction principles. It has also been shown (in collaboration with K.P. Johnston of University of Texas, Austin) that supercritical CO[sub 2] can be used effectively for micelle regeneration. Theoretical calculations of the structure of block copolymer micelles in the presence and absence of solutes using self-consistent mean-field lattice theories have successfully captured the trends observed with changing polymer composition and architecture, often quantitatively. The temperature and composition dependence of the micellar properties were determined by allowing the individual polymer segments to assume both polar and non-polar conformations.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-92ER14262
• OSTI ID: 6854227
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/14262-1; ON: DE93006000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALCOHOLS
AROMATICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONDENSED AROMATICS
COPOLYMERS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EXTRACTION
GLYCOLS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
POLYMERS
PROGRESS REPORT
PYRENE
REGENERATION
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SUPERCRITICAL GAS EXTRACTION