Reusability and selective adsorption of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> on chitosan/P(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-acrylic acid) hydrogel

Reusability and selective adsorption toward Pb²⁺ with the coexistence of Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions on chitosan/P(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-acrylic acid) [CS/P(AMPS-co-AA)] hydrogel, a multi-functionalized adsorbent containing –NH₂, –OH, –COOH and –SO₃H groups was studied. The CS/P(AMPS-co-AA) was prepared in aqueous solution by a simple one-step procedure using glow discharge electrolysis plasma technique. The reusability of adsorbent in HNO₃, EDTA-2Na and EDTA-4Na was investigated in detail. The competitive adsorption of the metal ions at the initial stage was compared between their equal mass concentration and equal molar concentration. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of the adsorbent for adsorption of Pb²⁺ was also analyzed by XPS. The results showed that the optimum pH of adsorption was 4.8, and time of adsorption equilibrium was about 180 min. Adsorption kinetics fitted well in the pseudo second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺ at pH 4.8 were obtained as 673.3, 358.3, 176.7, 235.0 and 171.7 mg g^?1, in their given order. The adsorbent displayed an excellent reusability using 0.015 mol L^?1 EDTA-4Na solution as the eluent, and the desorption ratio could not correctly reflect the true characteristics of adsorption/desorption process. Moreover, the adsorbent showed good adsorption selectivity for Pb²⁺. The molar adsorption capacity at the initial stage with equal molar concentration was more reliable than the mass adsorption capacity during the study of selective adsorption. According to the XPS results, the adsorption of Pb²⁺ ions by the CS/P(AMPS-co-AA) absorbent could be attributed to the coordination between N atom and Pb²⁺ and ion-exchange between Na⁺ and Pb²⁺.     

The competitive heavy metal removal by hydroxyethyl cellulose-g-poly(acrylic acid) copolymer and its sodium salt: The effect of copper content on the adsorption capacity

Summary Crosslinked hydroxyethyl cellulose-g-poly(acrylic acid) (HEC-g-pAA) graft copolymer was prepared by grafting of acrylic acid (AA) onto hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) using [Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆]/HNO₃ initiator system in the presence of poly(ethyleneglycol diacrylate) (PEGDA) crosslinking agent in 1:1 (v/v) mixture of methanol and water at 30 °C. Carboxyl content of copolymer was determined by neutralization of –COOH groups with NaOH solution and sodium salt of copolymer (HEC-g-pAANa) was swelled in distilled water in order to determine the equilibrium swelling value of copolymer. Both dry HEC-g-pAA and swollen HEC-g-pAANa copolymers were used in the heavy metal ion removal from three different aqueous ion solutions as follows: a binary ion solution with equal molar contents of Pb²⁺and Cd²⁺, a triple ion solution with equal molar contents of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺, and a triple ion solution with twice Cu²⁺molar contents of Pb²⁺and Cd²⁺. Higher removal values on swollen HEC-g-pAANa were observed in comparison to those on dry polymer. The presence of Cu²⁺decreased the adsorption values for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions on both types of HEC copolymer. However, with further increase in Cu²⁺ content both dry and swollen copolymers became apparently selective to Cu²⁺ removal and Cu²⁺ removal values exceeded the sum of adsorption values for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Maximum metal ion removal capacities were 1.79 and 0.85 mmol Me²⁺/g_polymer on swollen HEC-g-pAANa and dry HEC-g-pAA, respectively.     

Effects of co-ion initial concentration ratio on removal of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> from aqueous solution by modified sugarcane bagasse

A modified sugarcane bagasse (SCB) fixed bed column was used to remove Pb²⁺ from aqueous solution. To determine the optimal condition for Pb²⁺ separation, Ca²⁺ was chosen as the model interfering ion, and effects of Ca²⁺ and Pb²⁺ initial concentration ratio (C ₀ ^Ca : C ₀ ^Pb ) on the adsorption of Pb²⁺ were investigated. Results showed that adsorption amount ratio of Ca²⁺ and Pb²⁺ (q _e ^Ca : q _e ^Pb ) had a good linear relationship with C ₀ ^Ca : C ₀ ^Pb . Mass ratio of Pb²⁺ absorbed on the modified SCB was higher than 95% at C ₀ ^Ca : C ₀ ^Pb <1.95, illustrating that Pb²⁺ could be selectively removed from aqueous solution. To verify that, simulated waste water containing co-ions of K⁺, Na⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ca²⁺ was treated, and results showed that the equilibrium amount of Pb²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ca²⁺ adsorbed was 134.14, 0.083, 0.058, 1.28, and 1.28mg g^?1, respectively, demonstrating that the modified SCB could be used to remove Pb²⁺ from aqueous solution in the investigated range.     

Effect of Macrocycle Type on Pb2+ Transport through an Emulsion Liquid Membrane

Abstract

The relative effectiveness of 14 different macro-cycles in transporting Pb(NO₃)₂ has been determined at 25 °C using a water-toluene-water emulsion membrane system. The largest amount of Pb²⁺ transport was found with dideeyl-1,1O-diaza-18-crown-6 (91%), followed by dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (81%), di-tert-butyl-dicyclohexano-l8-crown-6 (77%), 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 (27%), and cryptand 2.2.1 (4,7,13,16,21,24-pentoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo(8, 8, 5)-tricosane) (16%). The use of the other macrocycles produced little Pb²⁺ transport. Analysis of the transport results shows that, for most effective transport, the macrocycle should distribute preferentially to the organic phase and the log K value for the binding of the macrocycle with Pb²⁺ must be large enough for quantitative extraction of the Pb2 + into the membrane. However, this log K value must be sufficiently smaller than that for interaction of Pb²⁺ with P₂O₇ ^4?, the receiving phase complexing agent, to allow a large Pb²⁺ concentration gradient to be established. These features provide information which should be useful in designing systems for cation separations using emulsion membranes.     

Copolymer resin. VII. 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid–thiourea–formaldehyde copolymer resins and their ion‐exchange properties

8‐Hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid–thiourea–formaldehyde copolymer resins were synthesized through the condensation of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid and thiourea with formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid as a catalyst and with various molar ratios of the reacting monomers. The resulting copolymers were characterized with UV‐visible, IR and 1H‐NMR spectral data, employed to determine the reactivity of monomers. The average molecular weights of these resins were determined with vapor pressure osmometry and conductometric titration in a nonaqueous medium. The chelation ion‐exchange properties were also studied with the batch equilibrium method. The resins were proved to be selective chelating ion‐exchange copolymers for certain metals. The chelation ion‐exchange properties of these copolymers were studied for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. The study was carried out over a wide pH range and in media of various ionic strengths. The copolymers showed a higher selectivity for Fe³⁺ ions than for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Pb²⁺ ions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Effects of adding B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> as a flux on phosphorescent properties in synthesis of SrAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>: (Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, DY<Superscript>3+</Superscript> phosphor

SrAl₂O₄: (Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) phosphor was prepared by solid state reaction. B₂O₅ as a flux was added in SrAl₂O₄:(Eu ²⁺, Dy³⁺) in order to accelerate a solid state reaction. In this paper, the effects of B₂O₃ on the crystal structure and the phosphorescent properties of the material have been evaluated. The synthesized phosphor exhibited a broad band emission spectrum peaking at 520 nm, and the spectrum peak showed little effect by the B₂O₃ contents. The maximum afterglow intensity of the SrAl₂O₄: (Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) phosphor was obtained at the B₂O₃ content of 5%. Adding the B₂O₃ caused uniform distortion to the crystal structure of the phosphor and resulted in reducing the lengths of a and c axes and Β angle of the SrAl₂O₄ crystal. The uniform distortion was accompanied with crystal defects which can trap the holes generated by the excitation of Eu²⁺ ions. The afterglow characteristic of the SrAl₂O₄: (Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) phosphor was thus enhanced.     

Pb2+ as a Substrate and a Cofactor of a Porphyrin Metalation DNAzyme

We herein report a DNAzyme named T30695 (sequence: (G₃T)₄) that can catalyze Zn²⁺ insertion into three different porphyrins in the presence of Pb²⁺ as a cofactor. Meanwhile, T30695 with Pb²⁺ alone was found to cause a shift in both the fluorescence and UV-vis spectra of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), thus suggesting that metalation of Pb²⁺ was also achieved at room temperature. From kinetic measurements, the reaction required two Pb²⁺ ions; this is consistent with one being a cofactor and the other being a substrate. No previous reports inserted Pb²⁺ into porphyrins by using DNAzymes or protein-based enzymes. This reaction was most significantly inhibited in the presence of K⁺ followed by Na⁺ and Li⁺, suggesting the importance of the Pb²⁺-stabilized G-quadruplex. When Pb²⁺ is inserted into PPIX, its emission blue shifts from 635 to 590 nm, thus allowing simple ratiometric fluorescent sensing with a detection limit of 1.2 nM Pb²⁺.     

Visible up-conversion luminescence of CaWO<Subscript>4</Subscript>: Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>,Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and emission enhancement by tri-doping of Li<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions

Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ co-doped CaWO₄ polycrystalline powders were prepared by a solid-state reaction and their up-conversion (UC) luminescence properties were investigated in detail. Under 980 nm laser excitation, CaWO₄: Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ powder exhibited green UC emission peaks at 530 and 550 nm, which were due to the transitions of Er³⁺ (²H_11/2)→Er³⁺ (⁴I_15/2) and Er³⁺ (⁴S_3/2)→Er³⁺ (⁴I_15/2), respectively. Effects of Li+ tri-doping into CaWO₄: Er³⁺,Yb³⁺ were investigated. The introduction of Li⁺ ions reduced the optimum calcinations temperature about 100 °C by a liquid-phase sintering process and the UC emission intensity was remarkably enhanced by Li⁺ ions, which could be attributed to the lowering of the symmetry of the crystal field around Er³⁺ ions.     

Competitive Removal of Heavy Metal Ions by Starch-Graft-Acrylic Acid Copolymers

Graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto starch was carried out with ceric ammonium nitrate as initiator under nitrogen atmosphere. The structures of the synthesized graft copolymers were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The grafting percentages (GP%) of starch-graft-acrylic acid (S-g-AA) copolymers were determined. Increasing the molar concentration of AA from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/L caused a significant increase in the GP%. The effect of GP% of S-g-AA copolymers on the competitive removal of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous solution was investigated at pH 4.5. The concentrations of each ion in aqueous solution were equal to each other, which were kept constant at 4 mmol/L. Metal ion removal capacities were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Metal ion removal capacities of S-g-AA copolymers rose with the increase in GP% of the copolymers and the order of the removal of heavy metal ions was Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺.     

Fractionation of Soybean Globulins Using Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>: A Comparative Analysis

The substitution of CaCl₂ by MgCl₂ was undertaken in Deak’s two-step process of separating the soybean 11S and 7S globulins, aiming at higher purities and lower phytic acid (PA) contents of recovered protein fractions. The effects of pH and the addition of NaCl were also evaluated. Compared with CaCl₂, MgCl₂ reduced the PA content of the 11S-rich fraction by 63–71% but increased that of the 7S-rich fraction by 14–28%, depending on pH. Correspondingly, more Ca²⁺ was recovered in the 11S-rich fraction, while more Mg²⁺ co-precipitated with the 7S-rich fraction. NaCl increased the purity of the 11S-rich fraction and reduced its PA content, but the purity of the 7S-rich fraction was reduced by using 50–100 mM NaCl. Lowering pHs from 6.4 and 4.8 to 5.6 and 4.0 in the two precipitation steps increased the yield of both fractions. The optimized fractionating procedure was as follows: the 11S-rich fraction was precipitated at pH 5.8 by using 5 mM MgCl_2, 10 mM NaHSO₃ and 20 mM NaCl, followed by the precipitation of the 7S-rich fraction at pH 4.5. The new method provided both fractions with satisfactory protein yields (22% for 11S and 16% for 7S), purities (88% for 11S and 80% for 7S) and PA contents (0.356% for 11S and 0.882% for 7S).     

Preparation of thermo-responsive electrospun nanofibers containing rhodamine-based fluorescent sensor for Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> detection

A series of Cu²⁺-sensing nanofibers has been successfully prepared by electrospinning of poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide)-co-(4-rhodamine hydrazonomethyl-3-hydroxy-phenyl methacrylate)] [poly(NIPAAm-co-NMA-co-RHPMA), PNNR] random copolymers. These PNNR copolymers were synthesized by free radical copolymerization of three monomers, thermo-responsive NIPAAm, chemically crosslinkable NMA and Cu²⁺-sensing RHPMA, with the composition of RHPMA in the range of 2.4–16.3 wt%. In acidic environments, the PNNR copolymers showed highly selective and sensitive recognition and displayed “ON-OFF” fluorescence toward Cu²⁺ both in solution and in solid state (thin films and nanofibers). From the quantitative analysis via Stern-Volmer plots, PNNR nanofibers exhibited comparable Stern-Volmer constants as those of PNNR solutions in the order of 10⁴ M^?1, which are much higher than those of PNNR thin films. The enhanced sensitivity of PNNR electrospun nanofibers is attributed to their higher surface area compared to dip-coating films. The PNNR nanofibers also exhibited an on/off switchable sensing behavior in response to temperature change due to the hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition of PNIPAAm. In addition, the binding of PNNR with Cu²⁺ is chemically reversible both in solution and in nanofibers with the treatment of Na₄EDTA.     

Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Sr2+, and Y3+ binding characteristics of 17β‐estradiol molecularly imprinted polymer particles incorporated with dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 for urine bioassay

The metal ion binding characteristics of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) submicron particles prepared using 17β‐estradiol (E2) as a template, and incorporated with dicyclohexano‐18‐crown‐6 (DCH18C6), were studied using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. When Sr²⁺ was added to DCH18C6‐E2‐MIP particles already occupied by Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Pb²⁺ inside the binding sites, a displacement reaction was observed: Cd²⁺/Cu²⁺/Pb²⁺‐DCH18C6‐E2‐MIP + Sr²⁺ = Sr²⁺‐DCH18C6‐E2‐MIP + Cd²⁺/Cu²⁺/Pb²⁺. This demonstrated that DCH18C6 had stronger binding affinity for Sr²⁺ than Cd²⁺ Cu²⁺ or Pb²⁺. Strong DCH18C6 binding affinity was also observed for Y³⁺. Atomic emission spectrometry showed that DCH18C6‐E2‐MIP particles (150 mg/mL) resulted in 52% binding of Sr²⁺ (2000 ppm, at pH 6.3 ± 0.1 and ionic strength of 0.1M NaNO₂). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Spectral properties of Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in alkali-zinc-tellurite,barium-tellurite-molybdate,and fluoride glasses

Glasses of three compositions—TeO₂ · ZnO · N₂O (TZN), where N is Li, Na, or K; TeO₂ · MoO₃ · BaO (TMB); and ZrF₄ · BaF₂ · LaF₃ · AlF₃ · NaF (ZBLAN)—activated by Er³⁺ or Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions were synthesized and investigated. For the ZBLAN glass, the brightest luminescence of Er³⁺ ions in the visible range was observed under excitation by the irradiation of a diode laser with the generation wavelength 0.98 μm. The TZN glass is not inferior in the intensity of luminescence with the wavelength 1.55 μm to the TMB glass, having phonons of higher energy than those for the TZN glass (940 and 740 cm⁻¹, respectively). A glass was prepared with a high content of molybdenum oxide. The possibility to increase the up-conversion efficiency in tellurite glasses is considered.     

Competitive removal of heavy metal ions by cellulose graft copolymers

The effect of composition of graft chains of four types cellulose graft copolymers on the competitive removal of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous solution was investigated. The copolymers used were (1) cellulose‐g‐polyacrylic acid (cellulose‐g‐pAA) with grafting percentages of 7, 18, and 30%; (2) cellulose‐g‐p(AA–NMBA) prepared by grafting of AA onto cellulose in the presence of crosslinking agent of N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide (NMBA); (3) cellulose‐g‐p(AA–AASO₃H) prepared by grafting of a monomer mixture of acrylic acid (AA) and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl propane sulphonic acid (AASO₃H) containing 10% (in mole) AASO₃H; and (4) cellulose‐g‐pAASO₃H obtained by grafting of AASO₃H onto cellulose. The concentrations of ions which were kept constant at 4 mmol/L in an aqueous solution of pH 4.5 were equal. Metal ion removal capacities and removal percentages of the copolymers was determined. Metal ion removal capacity of cellulose‐g‐pAA did not change with the increase in grafting percentages of the copolymer and determined to be 0.27 mmol metal ion/g_copolymer. Although the metal removal rate of cellulose‐g‐p(AA–NMBA) copolymer was lower than that of cellulose‐g‐pAA, removal capacities of both copolymers were the same which was equal to 0.24 mmol metal ion/g_copolymer. Cellulose did not remove any ion under the same conditions. In addition, cellulose‐g‐pAASO₃H removed practically no ion from the aqueous solution (0.02 mmol metal ion/g_copolymer). The presence of AASO₃H in the graft chains of cellulose‐g‐p(AA–AASO₃H) created a synergistic effect with respect to metal removal and led to a slight increase in metal ion adsorption capability in comparison to that of cellulose‐g‐pAA. All types of cellulose copolymers were found to be selective for the removal of Pb²⁺ over Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2034–2039, 2003     

Coalescence Extraction: A Novel,Rapid Means of Performing Solvent Extractions

Abstract

We report the development of a novel solvent extraction technique which exploits the coalescence properties exhibited by some solvent combinations at elevated temperatures. The technique allows for instantaneous mixing which approaches the theoretical extraction limit. In the extraction of Pb²⁺ from aqueous solution into either 2,4-pentanedione or glutaronitrile containing dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DC18C6), extraction times were reduced from 2 hours to less than 1 minute. The K _ex value for extracting Pb²⁺ into glutaronitrile with DC18C6 as the extractant was determined to be 260. The novel coalescence extraction technique is compared to traditional systems in terms of extraction efficiency, speed of extraction, and feasibility of practical applications.     

CO2‐responsive swelling behavior and metal‐ion adsorption properties in novel histamine‐conjugated polyaspartamide hydrogel

Novel polyaspartamide copolymers containing histamine pendants (PHEA‐HIS) were prepared from polysuccinimide, which is the thermal polycondensation product of aspartic acid, via a successive ring‐opening reaction using histamine (HIS) and ethanolamine (EA). The prepared water‐soluble copolymer was then crosslinked by reacting it with hexamethylene diisocyanate in order to provide a hydrogel with both good gel strength and reversible CO₂ absorption characteristics. PHEA‐HIS gel is also pH‐sensitive and eligible to coordinate to metal ions such as Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ni²⁺ due to the imidazole units in its structure. The CO₂‐responsive swelling behavior, metal‐ion adsorption, and morphology of the crosslinked gels were investigated. The approach described here results is a promising hydrogel with potential for a variety of industrial and biomedical applications including CO₂ capture, CO₂‐responsive and switchable sensors, and smart drug delivery systems. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43305.     

Structural and Activity Investigation into Al<Superscript>3+</Superscript>, La<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Addition to the Phosphomolybdate Heteropolyanion for Isobutane Selective Oxidation

Abstract  

Twelve phosphomolybdate compounds were synthesized via cationic exchange and were of the form: M _x H_3–3x [PMo₁₂O₄₀] (M = Al, La or Ce; 0 ≤ x ≤ 1). These compounds were analyzed by XRD and adsorption isotherm. Aluminum addition causes a primitive cubic phase, while lanthanum and cerium yield body-centered structures. La and Ce addition reduces surface area of phosphomolybdate structure. Temperature-programmed experiments for the selective oxidation of isobutane yielded methacrolein, 3-methyl-2-oxetanone (lactone), acetic acid (not with aluminous compounds), propene (only with aluminous compounds), carbon dioxide and water. The preference for propene rather than acetic acid formation with Al³⁺ may be due to the smaller cation size, or primitive cubic structure. These products form via two distinct reaction processes, labeled categories 1 and 2. Category 1 formation is associated with isobutane forming products on the surface, but reaction rate determined by bulk migration of charged particles. Category 2 formation is concerned with isobutane penetrating deep within the bulk of the substrate and forming products which subsequently desorb in a series of bell-shaped humps. Methacrolein forms via both category 1 and 2, whilst all other products form via category 2 exclusively. Kinetic analysis showed apparent activation barriers for category 1 methacrolein formation range from 67 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹ to >350 kJ mol⁻¹, and occur in groups with small, medium and large activation barriers. The addition of +3 metal cations to the phosphomolybdate anion increase thermal stability, significantly decreasing deactivation; IR spectroscopy shows that the Keggin structure remains intact during temperature-programmed experiments with the Al, La and Ce salts.     

Ligating behavior and metal uptake of N‐sulphonylpolyamine chelating resins anchored on polystyrene‐divinylbenzene beads

Amberlite XAD‐2 has been functionalized by coupling through –SO₂‐with ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine to give the corresponding polyamine chelating resins I–III. The solid metallopolymer complexes of the synthesized chelating resins with Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ were synthesized. The polyamine derivatives and their metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral (IR, UV/V, and ESR), and magnetic studies. The batch equilibrium method was utilized for using the chelating polyamines for the removal of Cu⁺², Zn⁺², Cd⁺², and Pb⁺² ions from aqueous solutions at different pH values and different shaking times at room temperature. The selective extraction of Cu⁺² from a mixture of the four metal ions and the metal capacities of the chelating resins were evaluated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1839–1846, 2005     

Adsorption Behaviour of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate and Polycaprolactone-Bentonite Composites for Pb2+ Uptake

The results presented in this work show that the hydrophobic thermoplastics, namely ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), could be good matrices for the synthesis of polymer/bentonite composites via the melt-blending method for the removal of heavy metals from water. The hydrophobic nature of the polymers was countered by using dry Na₂SO₄ to form large free-volume pores. These pores, formed after the removal of the Na₂SO₄ by washing, improved the contact ratio between bentonite particles and Pb²⁺ ions. The composites were able to achieve up to 78% Pb²⁺ removal at an initial concentration of 200 mg/L in 10 h with a clay loading of 3% (w/w). The results confirmed that the PCL/bentonite composite was more effective and efficient in the adsorption of Pb²⁺ than the EVA/bentonite composite. The experimental data for both composites followed Langmuir and Freundlich models. The uptake of Pb²⁺ was found to be a result of a chemical interaction between the heavy metal, silanol (Si–OH) and aluminol (Al–OH) groups. The adsorption of Pb²⁺ onto the composites was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics and the results supported a monomolecular reaction mechanism.     

Electrochemical determination of Pb<Superscript>2+</Superscript> using a carbon nanotube/Nafion composite film-modified electrode

A carbon nanotube/Nafion composite film modified electrode is described for the sensitive and convenient determination of Pb²⁺. In the presence of 1% Nafion, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were successfully dispersed into ethanol by ultrasonication. After evaporating the ethanol, a MWNT/Nafion composite film-modified electrode was achieved. The resulting MWNT/Nafion film modified electrode possesses high cation exchange capacity, large surface area, strong adsorption ability and catalytic activity. Compared with the unmodified electrode and Nafion film-modified electrode, the MWNT/Nafion film-modified electrode remarkably increases the stripping peak current of Pb²⁺. Furthermore, the influences of supporting electrolyte, volume of MWNT/Nafion suspension, accumulation potential and accumulation time were investigated. The striping peak current of Pb²⁺ is proportional to its concentration over the range 8.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 6.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) is as low as 5.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. Finally, this newly developed method was used to determine Pb²⁺ in water samples.