Preparation of poly (acrylic acid) containing core‐shell type resin for removal of basic dyes

BACKGROUND: A core‐shell type carboxylic acid modified resin was prepared and dye sorption characteristics of the resin were investigated. The resulting grafted resin material has been shown to be an efficient sorbent for removal of basic dyes from water as a result of the carboxylic acid group's affinity towards basic dye molecules. RESULTS: The resin was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and titrimetric methods. The basic dyes (methylene blue and crystal violet) were removed by contacting the swollen resin with aqueous dye solutions at room temperature. The adsorption capacities of resin were determined by colorimetric analysis of the residual dye content in the adsorption medium, which gave capacities for methylene blue and crystal violet of 300 and 250 mg g^?1 resin, respectively. The prepared resin is also able to remove basic dyes completely from dilute aqueous dye solutions. Batch kinetic sorption experiments determined that a pseudo‐second‐order rate kinetic model was applicable. CONCLUSION: Flexibility of the polymer side chains is expected to provide pseudo‐homogeneous reaction conditions and easy accessibility of the functional groups involved. The adsorbents are expected to have the advantage of mobility of the grafted chains in the removal of basic dyes from aqueous mixtures. The resin has potential as an adsorbent for removal of basic dyes for use over a wide pH range. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry