Removal of Chromium(III) Using Synthetic Polymers, Copolymers and their Sulfonated Derivatives as Adsorbents

Farah Kanwal,Liviu Mitu,Huma Razzaq,Muhammad Imran,Qurat-Ul-Ain Qurat-Ul-Ain,Zeeshan Rashid

doi:10.1155/2012/857579

Farah Kanwal, Liviu Mitu + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/857579

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Abstract

This study is concerned with the development of some synthetic polymers, copolymers and their sulfonated derivatives as adsorbents. The effectiveness of these adsorbents in removing Cr(III) from aqueous solution was evaluated by batch technique. The influence of different experimental parameters on removal process such as solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, Cr(III) concentration and temperature were evaluated. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved in 20 to 30 min. at pH > 5. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms were used to elucidate the observed sorption phenomena. The maximum Cr(III)37.8 mg/gram of PS(polystyrene) and 37.2 mg/g of SAN (styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer) was removed as evaluated from Langmuir isotherm while the heat of sorption was in the range 0.21–7.65 kJ/mol as evaluated from Temkin isotherm. It can be concluded that PS developed in this study exhibited considerable adsorption potential for application in removal of Cr(III) from aqueous media as compared to its copolymers and other derivatives used in this study.

Highlights

Chromium is considered as a priority pollutant among all the heavy metals
The present study shows that PS, PAN, Styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), PMMA, SMMA, PAA and styrene/acrylicacid copolymer (SAA) were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization and copolymerization and their sulfonated derivatives SPS, SPAN, sulfonated styrene/acrylonitrile (SSAN), SPMMA, sulfonated copolystyrene/ methyl-methacrylate (SSMMA), SPAA and SAA were prepared by homogeneous sulfonation
All the adsorbents show maximum adsorption at pH 7 except SSMMA and sulfonated- copolystyrene/acryli-cacid (SSAA) that shows at pH 2

Summary

Introduction

Chromium is considered as a priority pollutant among all the heavy metals. Various industrial effluents from pigments, electroplating, dying, canning, textile, leather tanning, paint, and steel industries contain substantial amounts of chromium. Sulfonatedpolystyrene (SPS) was prepared using a homogeneous reaction of a polystyrene (PS) solution in chloroform with a mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4 98%) and Removal of Chromium(III) Using Synthetic Polymers 623 phosphorous pentaoxide (P2O5).

Results

Conclusion