Should I wash the sample through the filter after the wet impregnation?
Also, is it supposed to use hot, cold and/or distilled water?
Finally, is there a specific amount of water/no. of rinses to refer to or do I just have to keep washing until my water process (filtrate) has a Ph of ca. 7?
Dear Antonio, I'm afraid you won't be able to wash out completely the polyethyleneimine from any activated carbon, the reason is the very high carbon's surface area, as polymer gets clogged in small cavities. Polar polymers (like this one) are more likely to have enhanced adhesion.
Dear Victor, I suppose it would have been difficult to free the pores by simply washing the material. Anyway, which is the best solution to give a try? washing agent other than water or what else?
As I see the problem, the best solution is a controlled burnoff, nevertheless I am unaware of required parameters in order to release only the polymer and keep the carbon. Good luck!!
Try to find a good solvent for your polymer. Then wash your impreganted carbon in excess of the solvent. Try to enhance washing using ultrasonic bath. Using rotary eveporator in vaccum also helps you.
Possibly some diluted acids (aqueous HCl) may be helpful but I am not sure. If you use acid, remember to wash carbon finally with water. After any washing, please dry you carbon, vaccum drying would be helpful. Good luck. Jacek
If you can find the solvent of your polymer, than you have to use a Soxhlet extractor, in which your activated carbon will be continuously washed by refluxing hot solvent during several days (say, 1 week if required). The Soxhlet boils the solvent, and only the condensed vapours (thus clean solvent) passes on the material to be washed. This is the best instrument I know for extensive washing, using only a low amount of solvent.
Alain
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