In this paper filter membranes of hybrid materials of high density polyethylene modified with maleic anhydride and ionized with aluminum hydroxide (PE- g -MA- Al ) (organic matrix) and pure amorphous aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) or impregnated with iron and/or aluminum (inorganic dispersed phase)have been developed. These membranes were obtained from the compositions of PE-g-MA-Al (M1), PE-g-MA-Al/AlPO4 (M2) PE-g-MA-Al/AlPO4-Al (M3) PE-g-MA-Al/AlPO4-Fe (M4) and PE-g-MA-Al/AlPO4-Fe, Al (M5), at a ratio of 97/3 wt%, using casting with hot xylene as a solvent and under reflux. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), textural analysis, surface tension and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to demonstrate the influence of the nature of the materials and of the methodology used for obtaining the membranes in the incorporation of the inorganic phase in the polymer matrix and in the properties of the resulting hybrid materials. The application of the membranes in the recovery of metals in the electroplating effluent indicated that iron and/or aluminum affect the morphology and texture properties of these materials. Therefore, they also influence the use of mesoporous membranes for ultrafiltration, where the best results were exhibited by M1 and M3 in recovering iron (32 to 35%) and zinc (62 and 60%).
Graft polyethylene with maleic anhydride; aluminum phosphate; organic-inorganic hybrid materials; membrane composite; wastewater from electroplating
