Nickel ion removal using nanoporous poly(styrene-co divinyl benzene) copolymer

Abstract

portions of diluent agent (porogen) were synthesized according to the methodology of the suspension polymerization technique. The structural characteristics of the particles and their adsorption properties for adsorption of Nickel ions were studied. Effect of solvent type and monomeric fraction on particles morphology and porosity was discussed. The solvents including n-heptane (HEP) and acetonitrile and monomer fraction was 50% and 30% of divinylbenzene (DVB). From the results obtained, we decided to apply an adsorbent with high mechanical strength and a porous structure appropriate for absorbing the Ni(II). The copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) tests to study the mor- phology and particle size of the nanoparticles. According to the results, the copolymers synthesized with n-heptane have more porosity. Also an increase in the percentage of DVB caused finer pores. After synthesis of copolymer the applicability of these polymer beads to separation and concentration of Ni(II) is discussed. In separation of Ni(II) from aqueous solution, the effects of pH, temperature and time are discussed and thermodynamic and kinetic calculations are done and its isotherm are fitted with various equations.