Analysis of Complexation Equilibria of Polyacrylic Acid by a Donnan-Based Concept

Dilute polyelectrolyte solutions: recent progress and open questions

Polyelectrolytes are a class of polymers possessing ionic groups on their repeating units. Since counterions can dissociate from the polymer backbone, polyelectrolyte chains are strongly influenced by electrostatic interactions. As a result, the physical properties of polyelectrolyte solutions are significantly different from those of electrically neutral polymers. The aim of this article is to highlight key results and some outstanding questions in the polyelectrolyte research from recent literature. We focus on the influence of electrostatics on conformational and hydrodynamic properties of polyelectrolyte chains. A compilation of experimental results from the literature reveals significant disparities with theoretical predictions. We also discuss a new class of polyelectrolytes called poly(ionic liquid)s that exhibit unique physical properties in comparison to ordinary polyelectrolytes. We conclude this review by listing some key research challenges in order to fully understand the conformation and dynamics of polyelectrolytes in solutions.

Determination of the pKa Value of Protonated Mono and Polyamine in Solution Using Fourier Transform Infrared Titration

The pKa values of propanolamine hydrochloride (PAMH) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAAMH) in concentrated solutions were determined by both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) titration and classical potentiometric (POT) titration and compared. Starting with the respective fully protonated forms PAMH and PAAMH and increasing the pH value by sodium hydroxide addition in situ attenuated total reflection FT-IR (ATR FT-IR) spectra on PAMH and PAAMH solutions show the variation of diagnostic infrared (IR) bands. From the decrease of the most intense δ(NH3+) band the dissociation process of the NH3+ groups could be followed. Thereby, from the respective normalized band area A the dissociation degree αIR of the ammonium groups could be determined. Plotting pH versus αIR and fitting this curve by a modified Henderson-Hasselbalch function pH = pKa + B log (αIR/1 - αIR) the parameters pKa and cooperativity factor B were obtained. pKa values from FT-IR titration were qualitatively in line with respective pKa values from POT titration. Quantitative systematic pKa deviations between polyelectrolyte (PEL) and respective monoelectrolyte and the tentative effects of PEL molecular weight, ambient ionic strength, and titration concept (FT-IR and POT) are discussed based on classical models of weak PEL.

Regulation of cadmium bioaccumulation in zebrafish by the aggregation state of TiO2 nanoparticles

The potential effects of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) on metal bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms have been the focus of increasing research attention. However, while NPs typically aggregate, the role of aggregation in NP-mediated metal bioaccumulation is largely unknown. The present study investigated the effects of polyacrylate-coated TiO₂ (anatase) NPs (AnaNPs) on Cd bioaccumulation in zebrafish. The Ca concentration in the experimental medium was manipulated to regulate AnaNP aggregation. At the low Ca concentration, the AnaNPs were well-dispersed and there was little bioaccumulation. Under this condition, Cd bioaccumulation was mainly via the uptake of free ions (Route 1), with only a minor contribution from NP-Cd complexes (Route 2). Therefore, AnaNPs decreased Cd bioaccumulation, as their inductive carrier effect could not offset the inhibition induced by the decrease in the free Cd ion concentration as a result of NP adsorption. At the high Ca concentration, the AnaNPs aggregated and their bioaccumulation increased. Accordingly, Cd bioaccumulation was equally accounted for by Routes 1 and 2 but the overall amount of Cd remained unchanged because the inductive effect of the AnaNPs offset their inhibitory effect. Thus, during risk evaluations of NPs, the contribution of aggregation to metal bioaccumulation should be considered.

Contrasting Behaviors between Gypsum and Silica Scaling in the Presence of Antiscalants during Membrane Distillation

Mineral scaling is a major constraint that limits the performance of membrane distillation (MD) for hypersaline wastewater treatment. Although the use of antiscalants is a common industrial practice to mitigate mineral scaling, the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of antiscalants in inhibiting different mineral scaling types have not been systematically investigated. Herein, we perform a comparative investigation to elucidate the efficiencies of antiscalant candidates with varied functional groups for mitigating gypsum scaling and silica scaling in MD desalination. We show that antiscalants with Ca(II)-complexing moieties (e.g., carboxyl group) are the most effective to inhibit gypsum scaling formed via crystallization, whereas amino-enriched antiscalants possess the best performance to mitigate silica scaling created by polymerization. A set of microscopic and spectroscopic analyses reveal distinct mechanisms of antiscalants required for those two common types of scaling. The mitigating effect of antiscalants on gypsum scaling is attributed to the stabilization of scale precursors and nascent CaSO₄ nuclei, which hinders phase transformation of amorphous CaSO₄ toward crystalline gypsum. In contrast, antiscalants facilitate the polymerization of silicic acid, immobilizing active silica precursors and retarding the gelation of silica scale layer on the membrane surface. Our study, for the first time, demonstrates that antiscalants with different functionalities are required for the mitigation of gypsum scaling and silica scaling, providing mechanistic insights on the molecular design of antiscalants tailored to MD applications for the treatment of wastewaters containing different scaling types.

Electrolyte Effects on Poly (Acrylic Acid)-Based Aircraft De-icing Fluids

Poly (acrylic acid) [PAA]-based aircraft de-icing fluids are widely used commercially but are known to be subject to the formation of insoluble gel particles within wing structures. In this study, the rheological effects of the sodium chloride, potassium formate, and calcium acetate with commercially used PAA-based fluids are reported across the temperature range of −15 to 15 °C. Calcium ions have the potential to create gel particles, reflected in the shifts in the viscosity–temperature profile, while PAA aggregation is influenced by the concentrations and compositions of sodium and potassium salts in the water used for dilution. From the data presented, it is possible to create de-icing fluid formulations with the necessary rheological characteristics from stock solutions by dilution using available water sources, providing that the ion concentration is known.

Effect of grafting density on conformation of poly(acrylic acid) in solution by dielectric spectroscopy

The effect of grafting density of poly(ethylene oxide) and dodecyl groups on the conformation of poly(acrylic acid) in solution was clarified by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy over a frequency range from 40 Hz to 110 MHz. Two distinct dielectric relaxations were found after the elimination of electrode polarization, and valuable information about the conformations and interfacial electrokinetic properties of molecules was obtained by analyzing the dielectric spectra based on a refined double-layer polarization model. The critical aggregation concentration was determined by the concentration dependency of dielectric parameters. The results based on zeta potential suggested that the ionization performance and behavior of counterion condensation were strongly influenced by the grafting density of poly(ethylene oxide) and dodecyl groups. The concentration dependency of correlation length, ratio of zeta potential, ratio of linear density of counterions, and the Debye length showed that the chain length and degree of intermolecular aggregation were also strongly influenced by the grafting density. We revealed the role of grafting density with respect to electrostatic interaction in determining the chain conformation of polyelectrolytes in solution.

Competitive calcium ion binding to end-tethered weak polyelectrolytes

We have developed a molecular model to describe the structural changes and potential collapse of weak polyelectrolyte layers end-tethered to planar surfaces and spherical nanoparticles as a function of pH and divalent ion concentration. In particular, we describe the structural changes of polymer-coated nanoparticles end-tethered to copolymers of poly(acrylic acid) (pAA) and poly arcrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate (pAMPS) in the presence of Ca²⁺ ions. We find that end-grafted poly(acrylic acid) layers will collapse in aqueous solutions containing sufficient amounts of Ca²⁺ ions, while polymers and copolymers with sufficient AMPS monomers will not collapse. The collapse of end-tethered pAA is due to the formation of calcium bridges between two acrylic acid monomers and one calcium ion. On the other hand pAMPS layers do not collapse due to the lack of calcium bridges. The collapse of pAA layers is strongly dependent on the pH as well as divalent and monovalent salt concentrations of the environment. The collapse is also strongly influenced by the curvature of the tethering surface.

Synthesis of highly porous poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-b-polysulfone-b-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) asymmetric membranes

For the first time, self-assembly and non-solvent induced phase separation was applied to polysulfone-based linear block copolymers, reaching mechanical stability much higher than other block copolymer membranes used in this method, which were mainly based on polystyrene blocks.

Effect of Grafted Hydroquinone on the Acid-Base Properties of Poly(acrylic acid) in the Presence of Copper (II)

Potentiometric titration of poly(acrylic acid) and hydroquinone-functionalized poly(acrylic acid) was conducted in the presence of copper (II). The effects of hydroquinone functionalizing and copper (II) complexing on the potentiometric titration of poly(acrylic acid) were studied in an ionic environment and in its absence. Henderson-Hasselbalch equation was applied to assess its validity for this titration. Coordination number and the stability constants of the copper- (II-)complexed polymers were determined, and results showed the formation of mostly monodentate and bidentate copper- (II-)polymer complexes.

Modeling ion binding to humic substances: elastic polyelectrolyte network model

A new model for the electrostatic contribution to ion binding to humic substances is proposed and applied to published data for proton binding to fulvic and humic acids. The elastic polyelectrolyte network model treats humic substance particles as composed by two parts, an external one directly in contact with the solution, and an internal part or gel fraction which is considered, from a statistical point of view, as a charged polymer network swelled by the electrolyte solution, in the framework of the Flory polymer network theory. The electrostatic effect is given by a Donnan-like potential, which can be regarded as an average value over the gel fraction of the humic particle. The gel fraction expands as the pH and humic charge are increased, determining the Donnan potential and consequently the ion activity inside the gel. The model was fitted to published experimental data with good agreement. The model predictions are discussed, and the behavior suggests, for some cases, the presence of a transition between closed and open structures attributed to the presence, at low pH, of intramolecular hydrogen bonds which are removed as the carboxylic sites become deprotonated.

Potentiometry of effective concentration of polyacrylate as scale inhibitor

The concentration of polyacrylate (PA) used as a scale inhibitor was potentiometrically determined with a solid state copper ion-selective electrode after addition of Cu2+ as a probe. While the conventional methods monitor only the total concentration of PA, the proposed method measures the free, "effective" concentration of PA in equilibrium with species like Ca2+ and CaCO3. The slope of a potential response to PA was -40 mV decade(-1) and the limit of detection was 10(-6.3) M (= mol dm(-3)) at a probe concentration of 10(-6) M. The system could be used to control the PA concentration just enough to prevent the scale formation in various circulating water systems.

Modeling the complexation properties of mineral-bound organic polyelectrolyte: An attempt at comprehension using the model system alumina/polyacrylic acid/M (M=Eu, Cm, Gd)

This paper contributes to the comprehension of kinetic and equilibrium phenomena governing metal ion sorption on organic-matter-coated mineral particles. Sorption and desorption experiments were carried out with Eu ion and polyacrylic acid (PAA)-coated alumina colloids at pH 5 in 0.1 M NaClO(4) as a function of the metal ion loading. Under these conditions, M interaction with the solid is governed by sorbed PAA (PAA(ads)). The results were compared with spectroscopic data obtained by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) with Cm and Gd. The interaction between M and PAA(ads) was characterized by a kinetically controlled process: after rapid metal adsorption within less than 1 min, the speciation of complexed M changed at the particle surface till an equilibrium was reached after about 4 days. At equilibrium, one part of complexed M was shown to be not exchangeable. This process was strongly dependent on the ligand-to-metal ratio. Two models were tested to explain the data. In model 1, the kinetically controlled process was described through successive kinetically controlled reactions that follow the rapid metal ion adsorption. In model 2, the organic layer was considered as a porous medium: the kinetic process was explained by the diffusion of M from the surface into the organic layer. Model 1 allowed a very good description of equilibrium and kinetic experimental data. Model 2 could describe the data at equilibrium but could not explain the kinetic data accurately. In spite of this disagreement, model 2 appeared more realistic considering the results of the TRLFS measurements.

Calcium sulfate precipitation in the presence of water-soluble polymers

The effect of four different polymers on the precipitation of calcium sulfate was investigated in the present work. The degree of inhibition was estimated from measurements of the calcium ion activity and from specific solution conductivity measurements in the supersaturated solutions during the course of the precipitation process. The effects of polyacrylic acid (PAA, three different polymers with average molecular weight 2000, 50,000, and 240,000, respectively) and of a co-polymer of PAA with polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSA, average molecular weight<20,000) were investigated with respect to their effect on the kinetics of spontaneous precipitation of calcium sulfate salts. The results of the kinetics experiments suggested that the spontaneous precipitation from supersaturated calcium sulfate solutions at 25 degrees C yielded exclusively calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) both in the absence and in the presence of the polymeric additives. The induction times, preceding the formation of the solid increased in all cases in the presence of the polymeric additives. Polymer concentrations as low as 2.0 ppm increased induction time from practically zero to 10 min. The rates of precipitation were reduced according to the solutions content in the polymers added and precipitation was completely suppressed in the presence of 6.0 ppm of the polymers tested, depending on their molecular weight. The lower the molecular weight of PAA, the more efficient was the threshold inhibition and the stronger the reduction of the rates of spontaneous precipitation. PSA yielded the poorest inhibition efficiency in comparison with the PAA, possibly because of the relatively lower affinity of the sulfonate groups for the calcium ions of the surface of the solid forming. The kinetics results analysis assuming Langmuir-type adsorption of the polymeric molecules on the growing supercritical gypsum nuclei showed different affinity for the polymers tested in agreement with the respective inhibition efficiency, in the order: PAA1>PAA2>PSA>PAA3. The presence of the polymers in the supersaturated solutions resulted in modification of the precipitated gypsum crystals morphology.

Highly Loaded and Thermally Stable Cu-Containing Mesoporous SilicaActive Catalyst for the NO + CO Reaction

We report the synthesis of a highly loaded and thermally stable Cu-containing mesoporous silica, which was developed by making use of poly(acrylic acid) (Pac) assembled with surfactant (C(16)TAB), as template. On this backbone, TEOS and Cu(II) hydrolysis takes place leading to the development of the final mesostructure. Poly(acrylic acid) is used not only as a micelle structural component but also as a complexation agent for Cu(II) species resulting in high metal loading and increased thermal stability of the mesoporous network. The original uncalcined material possesses hexagonal ordering, while upon calcination it is transformed into a wormlike mesoporous network with metal loading >14 wt % Cu. An evaluation of its performance as heterogeneous catalyst in NO reduction by CO shows catalytic activity comparable with that of noble metal catalysts. Complete NO conversion, with >90% selectivity to N(2), was achieved between 190 and 200 degrees C. The material retained its structure and catalytic activity after 24-h testing at the maximum catalytic conversion of NO and CO.

Trace metal ion partitioning at polymer film-metal oxide interfaces: long-period X-ray standing wave study

The distributions of Pb(II) and As(V)O4(3-) ions in the interfacial region between thin poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) coatings and aalpha-A12O3(0001), alpha-Al2O3(1-102), and alpha-Fe2O3(0001) single-crystal substrates were studied using long-period X-ray standing wave fluorescent yield (XSW-FY) and X-ray reflectivity techniques. The PAA film serves as a simplified analogue of natural organic matter (NOM) coatings on mineral surfaces. Such coatings are often assumed to play an important role in the partitioning and speciation of trace heavy metals in soils and aquatic systems. On the alpha-Al2O3(1-102) surface, Pb(II) ions were found to preferentially bind to the PAA coating, even at sub-micromolar Pb(II) concentrations, and to partition increasingly onto the metal oxide surface as the Pb(II) concentration was increased ([Pb(II)] = 5 x 10(-8) to 2 x 10(-5) M, pH = 4.5; 0.01 M NaCl background electrolyte). This observation suggests that the binding sites in the PAA coating outcompete those on the alpha-Al2O3(1-102) surface for Pb(II) under these conditions. The As(V)O4(3-) oxoanion partitions preferentially to the L-Al2O3(1-102) surface for the As(V)O4(3-) concentrations examined (1 x 10(-7) to 5 x 10(-7) M, pH = 4.5; 0.01 M NaCl background electrolyte). Partitioning of Pb(II) (at 1 x 10(-7) M and pH 4.5) was also examined at PAA/alpha-Al2O3(0001), and PAA/alpha-Fe2O3(0001) interfaces using XSW-FY measurements. Our results show that the PAA coating was the dominant sink for Pb(II) in all three samples; however, the relative order of reactivity of these metal oxide surfaces with respect to Pb(II) sorption is alpha-Fe2O3(0001) > alpha-Al2O3(1-102) > alpha-Al2O3(0001). This order is consistent with that found in previous studies of the PAA-free surfaces. These XSW results strongly suggest that the characteristics of the organic film (i.e., binding affinity, type, and density of binding sites) as well as metal oxide substrate reactivity are key factors determining the distribution and speciation of Pb(II) and As(V)O4(3-) at organic film/metal oxide interfaces.

Application of the SAXS method and viscometry for determination of the thickness of adsorbed polymer layers at the ZrO2–polymer solution interface

The authors studied the influence of the molecular weight of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM), solution pH and ionic strength, and the background electrolyte type on adsorption and the thickness of polyelectrolyte adsorption layers formed on ZrO(2) surface. Carboxyl groups distributed along PAA and PAM chains were shown to be responsible for their interface conformation, which directly influences the thickness of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte layers. Bonding of macromolecules with solid surface occurs through the hydrogen bridges of these groups. Two methods were applied to determine the PAA and PAM adsorption layer thickness on ZrO(2), i.e., SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) and viscometry. Despite some limitations of the SAXS method resulting from the relationship between the size of solid pores, polymer molecular weight, and conformation of the adsorbed macromolecule, all obtained SAXS results were very close to those calculated from viscometry data.

Cadmium adsorption on aluminum oxide in the presence of polyacrylic acid

Adsorption of metals from aqueous solution onto oxide and other surfaces is known to affect trace metal transport in many natural and engineered systems. It is therefore important to understand whether dissolved metal inputs will be easily bound to particles or will be strongly complexed in solution and transported with the water phase. The effect of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), representing a model compound for natural organic matter, on the adsorption of Cd(II) onto gamma-Al2O3 was determined using batch adsorption experiments over a pH range from 4 to 10. Initially, interactions among the individual components were evaluated. Cadmium adsorption onto alumina showed a typical S-shaped metal adsorption curve. PAA adsorption onto gamma-Al2O3 decreased with increase in pH. The affinity of PAA for Cd2+ increased strongly with pH. In ternary systems, the presence of PAA resulted in an enhancement of Cd(II) adsorption below pH 6, apparently due to ternary surface complex formation. Above pH 6, a decrease in cadmium adsorption onto gamma-Al2O3 was observed resulting from an increase in the concentration of soluble Cd-PAA complexes. Overall, results indicate that the presence of natural organic matter could have a significant impact on the distribution and mobility of cadmium in the environment. Simple surface complexation modeling was insufficient to describe behavior in the ternary systems due to the complexity of the PAA polymer.