Development and characterisation of polyaniline/titanium conducting polymer based ion exchange material for removal of toxic metal ions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Industrial effluents contain many toxic heavy metal ions and they are the main source for water pollution. Different methods are adopted for the purification of infected water. Among the diverse techniques, ion exchange method using conducting polymer based ion exchange material has several advantages over than other traditional methods like adsorption. In the present work, polyaniline/Ti(IV) iodosulphosalicylate (PANI/Ti(IV) ISS) a conducting polymer based ion exchange material was synthesised by sol–gel method via the mixing of inorganic precipitate of Titanium(IV) iodosulphosalicylate (Ti(IV) ISS) into the matrix of organic conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI). The PANI/Ti(IV) ISS conducting polymer based ion exchange material was well characterised using techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction studies (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermal (TGA/DTG) analysis. The ion exchange capacity, elution behaviour, elution time and pH titration studies were also investigated. Furthermore a.c. electrical conductivity studies and impedance spectrum of this material also carried out. Some binary separations of heavy metal ions were achieved by the column packed by PANI/Ti(IV) ISS conducting polymer based ion exchange material. PANI/Ti(IV) ISS conducting polymer based ion exchange material showed an ion exchange capacity values (IEC) for Li+, Na+ and K+ which were found to be 1.98, 2.49 and 2.68 meq/g respectively. Based on the distribution coefficient values, PANI/Ti(IV) ISS conducting polymer based ion exchange material was found to be selective for the removal of Pb2+ ion, and the Kd value of 493.02 mL/g for Pb2+ ion from a mixture of toxic metal ions. Pb(II)ion from a synthetic mixture can be removed quantitatively by using PANI/Ti(IV) ISS and it is a promising candidate for ion selective electrode membrane studies.