Investigation of Pb(II) adsorption onto natural and synthetic polymers

Abstract

AbstractAdsorption of toxic metal ion Pb(II) onto two different insoluble humic acids (IHAs) obtained from Beysehir (BIHA) and Ermenek (EIHA) low grade lignites and two synthesized terpolymers: styrene‐divinylbenzene‐methacrylic acid (SDBM) and styrene‐divinylbenzene allylmethacrylate (SDBAM) were investigated and compared with commercial activated carbon (AC). The synthesized polymers were characterized by FTIR. Effects of pH (in neutral and acidic range), time, and initial metal concentration on the effectiveness of IHAs and terpolymers were determined. All synthesized adsorbents could adsorb Pb(II) with much higher capacity at half of the retention of AC in acidic medium. The adsorption capacities varied in the range of 51–76 mg g−1. The affinity order of polymers in acidic medium for Pb(II) ions was observed as: SDBAM>SDBM>BIHA≈EIHA>AC. IHAs fit Freundlich model while SDB polymers were fitting Langmuir isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacities in neutral medium were 48 mg g−1 for SDBM and 15 mg g−1 for BIHA. Desorption studies for the polymer of highest performance indicated that about 90% desorption was achieved at 5 h by using EDTA regenerant solution. The polymer can be used repeatedly in Pb(II) adsorption with close capacities to initial use. The higher selectivity of SDBAM to Pb(II) ions in multimetal solution was also indicated in the study. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012