Effect of cation alkyl chain length on 3-sulfopropylmethacrylate-based draw solutes having lower critical solution temperature.

We investigated the effect of change in alkyl chain length of cation in tributylalkylphosphonium 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate ([P][CS], # = 4, 6, and 8) ionic liquids (ILs) on their osmolality and recovery properties as the draw solute in the forward osmosis (FO) process. The ILs aqueous solutions exhibited a characteristic of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase separation, which allowed for the easy recovery of the draw solute or clean water from the diluted draw solution. The LCSTs of 31, 26, 22, and 18 °C were obtained from 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt% aqueous solutions of [P][CS]. When deionized water, 2000 ppm NaCl solution, and 10.0 wt% orange juice aqueous solution were used as feed solution, the water fluxes of the aqueous [P][CS] solutions were approximately 4.49, 3.87, and 1.55 LMH, respectively, in the active layer facing the draw solution mode at 7.5 wt% of draw solution. This study demonstrates the applicability of a thermoresponsive ionic structure material as a draw solute for the FO process.