Abstract
Magnetic polyvinyl alcohol adsorbent M-PVAL was employed to remove and concentrate dimethyl phthalate DMP. The M-PVAL was prepared after sequential syntheses of magnetic Fe3O4 (M) and polyvinyl acetate (M-PVAC). The saturated magnetizations of M, M-PVAC, and M-PVAL are 57.2, 26.0, and 43.2 emu g−1 with superparamagnetism, respectively. The average size of M-PVAL by number is 0.75 μm in micro size. Adsorption experiments include three cases: (1) adjustment of initial pH (pH0) of solution to 5, (2) no adjustment of pH0 with value in 6.04–6.64, and (3) adjusted pH0 = 7. The corresponding saturated amounts of adsorption of unimolecular layer of Langmuir isotherm are 4.01, 5.21, and 4.22 mg g−1, respectively. Values of heterogeneity factor of Freundlich isotherm are 2.59, 2.19, and 2.59 which are greater than 1, revealing the favorable adsorption of DMP/M-PVAL system. Values of adsorption activation energy per mole of Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm are, respectively, of low values of 7.04, 6.48, and 7.19 kJ mol−1, indicating the natural occurring of the adsorption process studied. The tiny size of adsorbent makes the adsorption take place easily while its superparamagnetism is beneficial for the separation and recovery of micro adsorbent from liquid by applying magnetic field after completion of adsorption.
Highlights
Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as hormones, have spread in various environmental media due to wide use of materials or products containing these substances or compounds
phthalate esters (PAEs) are derivatives of phthalate acid. They have been applied for the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) and used as plasticizer, binder, and coating and printing ink [21, 27]
All three particles exhibit magnetization at the presence of magnetic field while they possess no magnetization in the absence of externally applied magnetic field, showing the unique characteristics of superparamagnetism
Summary
Emerging contaminants (ECs), such as hormones, have spread in various environmental media due to wide use of materials or products containing these substances or compounds. They have been applied for the manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS) and used as plasticizer, binder, and coating and printing ink [21, 27]. Due to their endocrine disruption effects, many countries have either regulated the upper limiting concentration or restricted the use of PAEs in plastic toys.
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