Removal of Cd2+ from water by use of super-macroporous cryogels and comparison to commercial adsorbents

Baimenov, Alzhan and Berillo, Dmitriy and Azat, Seitkhan and Nurgozhin, Talgat and Inglezakis, Vassilis (2020) Removal of Cd2+ from water by use of super-macroporous cryogels and comparison to commercial adsorbents. Polymers, 12 (10). 2405. ISSN 2073-4360 (https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102405)

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Abstract

In this study amphoteric cryogels were synthesized by the use of free-radical co-polymerization of acrylate-based precursors (methacrylic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propansulfonic acid) with allylamine at different ratios. The physico-chemical characteristics of the cryogels were examined using SEM/EDX, FT-IR, XPS and zeta potential measurements. The cryogels were tested toward Cd 2+ removal from aqueous solutions at various pH and initial concentrations. Equilibrium studies revealed a maximum sorption capacity in the range of 132–249 mg/g. Leaching experiments indicated the stability of Cd 2+ in the cryogel structure. Based on kinetics, equilibrium and characterization results, possible removal mechanisms are proposed, indicating a combination of ion exchange and complexation of Cd 2+ with the cryogels’ surface functional groups. The cryogels were compared to commercially available adsorbents (zeolite Y and cation exchange resin) for the removal of Cd 2+ from various water matrices (ultrapure water, tap water and river water) and the results showed that, under the experimental conditions used, the cryogels can be more effective adsorbents.

ORCID iDs

Baimenov, Alzhan, Berillo, Dmitriy, Azat, Seitkhan, Nurgozhin, Talgat and Inglezakis, Vassilis ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0195-0417;