Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of excellent thermally stable and mercury selective organic–inorganic composite cation exchanger polyvinyl alcohol thorium(IV) phosphate

Abstract

AbstractA Hg(II) ions selective composite cation exchanger polyvinyl alcohol Th(IV) phosphate was synthesized by sol–gel method and characterized by various techniques such as FTIR, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis/differential thermogravimetry, SEM and TEM to confirm its nature, thermal stability, surface morphology, and particle size. The enhanced ion-exchange capacity of hybrid exchanger than that of the inorganic exchanger was due to assimilation of organic polymer polyvinyl alcohol by Th(IV) phosphate gel. Elution behavior was estimated to ascertain the viability of this cation exchanger for column operation. The distribution studies revealed that composite cation exchanger is selectivity for Hg(II) ions. These properties of composite cation exchanger make it useful for future applications toward removal of mercury from variety of polluted water bodies as well as industrial effluent treatment plants.