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▲ [21a-S322-1] Adsorption of Benzene and Borderline / Group B Heavy Metals by Poly (butadiene-co-acrylic acid) Gel
Keywords:Gel,Heavy metals,Benzene
A dual functional gel for the adsorption of both organic and inorganic pollutants was synthesized and studied for the factors affecting the adsorption capacities and the rate limiting parameters. The gel was synthesized via solution radical polymerization method using butadiene and acrylic acid monomers. Gel characterization through the FTIR and NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of carbon-carbon double bond (alkene) and the carboxylic acid active groups in the polymer backbone. These groups were responsible for the adsorption of both benzene’s single aromatic ring; and adsorption of metal ions from aqueous solutions, respectively. Benzene adsorption occurred through the alkene active sites, which being good alkylating agents, got attacked by the benzene leading to the aromatic ring getting attached to the gel surface with an adsorption capacity, q = 2.81 mg/g within an equilibrium time of 360 minutes. The degree of adsorption compared favourably with common adsorbents for benzene adsorption such as activated carbon, but with a much faster extraction time.
Metal extraction was largely due to the poly (acrylic acid) ionomeric end of the gel backbone. The COOH group ionizes in water leading to formation of mobile H+ ions which get replaced by the metal ions (M n +) that eventually gets adsorbed onto the COO- active sites. The adsorption of heavy metals was a factor of relative abundance, ion charge and pH of the metal ion solution, with optimum sorption occurring at pH 4.1 and least at original pH 1.7. The gel’s efficiency in sorption and dual functionality using easily obtainable monomers makes it a cheaper sorbent choice for decontamination of monoaromatic compounds and heavy-metal-polluted environments.
Metal extraction was largely due to the poly (acrylic acid) ionomeric end of the gel backbone. The COOH group ionizes in water leading to formation of mobile H+ ions which get replaced by the metal ions (M n +) that eventually gets adsorbed onto the COO- active sites. The adsorption of heavy metals was a factor of relative abundance, ion charge and pH of the metal ion solution, with optimum sorption occurring at pH 4.1 and least at original pH 1.7. The gel’s efficiency in sorption and dual functionality using easily obtainable monomers makes it a cheaper sorbent choice for decontamination of monoaromatic compounds and heavy-metal-polluted environments.