| abstract |
A complex comprising a charged species, a polymer comprising ionisable groups, and an ionic surfactant, wherein the charged species is a positively charged species and the ionic surfactant is an anionic surfactant, or the charged species is a negatively charged species and the ionic surfactant is a cationic surfactant. The charged species may comprise a metal such as cadmium, chromium, copper, magnesium, nickel, arsenic, lead, mercury, selenium, silver or zinc. The anionic surfactant may comprise an anionic functional group selected from sulphate, sulphonate, phosphate, phosphonate and carboxylate. The cationic surfactant may comprise a cationic functional group selected from a quaternary ammonium or a cationic nitrogen containing group. The polymer comprising ionisable groups may be selected from the group of polyethyleneimine (PEI), polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PolyDADMAC) or polystyrene sulphonate (PSS). A process comprising treating a solution with an ionic surfactant and a polymer comprising ionisable groups, wherein the solution comprises a charged species, to form a complex as claimed is also provided. Application of such treatment to the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous effluents is also provided; such removal can be achieved via filtration of the complex from the effluent. |