Synthesis and adsorption performance of temperature-sensitive imprinted composite poly (vinylidene fluoride) resin membranes with chitosan modification for selective separation of ReO4−

Purpose This study aims to prepare an imprinted composite membrane with grafted temperature-sensitive blocks for the efficient adsorption and separation of rhenium(Re) from aqueous solutions. Design/methodology/approach PVDF resin membrane was used as the substrate, dopamine and chitosan (CS) were used to modify the membrane surface and temperature-sensitive block PDEA was grafted on the membrane surface. Then acrylic acid (AA) and N -methylol acrylamide ( N -MAM) were used as the functional monomers, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker and ascorbic acid-hydrogen peroxide (Vc-H 2 O 2 ) as the initiator to obtain the temperature-sensitive ReO4 − imprinted composite membranes. Findings The effect of the preparation process on the performance of CS–Re–TIICM was investigated in detail, and the optimal preparation conditions were as follows: the molar ratios of AA–NH 4 ReO 4 , N -MAM and EGDMA were 0.13, 0.60 and 1.00, respectively. The optimal temperature and time of the reaction were 40 °C and 24 h. The maximum adsorption capacity of CS–Re–TIICM prepared under optimal conditions was 0.1071 mmol/g, and the separation was 3.90 when MnO4 − was used as the interfering ion. The quasi first-order kinetics model and Langmuir model were more suitable to describe the adsorption process. Practical implications With the increasing demand for Re, the recovery of Re from Re-containing secondary resources becomes important. This study demonstrated a new material that could be separated and recovered Re in a complex environment, which could effectively alleviate the conflict between the supply and demand of Re. Originality/value This contribution provided a new material for the selective separation and purification of ReO4 − , and the adsorption capacity and separation of CS–Re–TIICM were increased with 1.673 times and 1.219 time compared with other Re adsorbents, respectively. In addition, when it was used for the purification of NH 4 ReO 4 crude, the purity was increased from 91.950% to 99.999%.