The use of new modified poly(acrylamide) chelating resin with pendent benzothiazole groups containing donor atoms in the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions

Abstract

The adsorption studies of poly(6-(ethoxybenzothiazole acrylamide) (PEBTA), for Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal ions removal from an aqueous solution have been investigated, as a function of solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature. The chemical and structural characteristics of the adsorbent were determined by the FT-IR, 1H-NMR, TGA, SEM, and EDAX analysis. The maximum adsorption capacities of the adsorbent for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, as calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model, were 273.5 and 216.4mg/g, respectively. The adsorption kinetic studies show that the adsorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions onto PEBTA follows the pseudo second order kinetic model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° were also evaluated, and it has been found that the adsorption process is feasible, spontaneous and exothermic in nature. Desorption studies were carried out using 0.3N HCl, and it revealed that the adsorbed Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions can be easily removed. The adsorption–desorption process is reversible, and this indicates that PEBTA is an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from an aqueous medium.