Optimization of different polymer composites films for the removal of chromium

Abstract

Heavy metal pollutants in water are of great concern. Among the heavy metals, chromium is the metal that is discharged as a pollutant from many industries. Due to the ease of usability, polymer and polymer composites are being explored as adsorbent materials. In this paper, different polymer-based materials were prepared and studied for the adsorption of chromium. The polymer composites and blends were prepared by the solvent casting method. The composites and blends studied are PP-g-MAH-EPDM, chitosan-lignin, chitosan- nanocellulose, chitosan-EPDM and chitosan-PP-g-MAH. Lignin and nanocellulose were synthesized in the lab. All composites are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand dispersion, and homogeneity of composites and blends. Further, DSC and TGA analysis was conducted for the insights on crystalline behaviour and thermal stability, respectively. The adsorption experiment was carried out by cutting these films in 1 cm × 2 cm, thickness around 0.15 mm, and weight around 0.5 g. The films are submerged into a lab-prepared chrome solution containing a chrome concentration of about 10 ppm. The batch adsorption experiment was carried out for different contact times up to 300 min. Chitosan-based composites containing lignin and nanocellulose showed greater than 90% Cr removal and was found to be the best composites.