Abstract:
In this study, 2 types of GMA based copolymers, poly(GMA-co-HEMA-co-
DVB) or PGMA and poly(VBC-co-HEMA-co-DVB)-g-GMA or PVBC-g-GMA,
were prepared by suspension polymerization. Porous structures of the beads were
generated by including different amounts and types of porogens in the polymerization
mixture. The copolymer beads were modified by ring opening reaction of pendant
epoxy groups with ethylene diamine (EDA), diethylene triamine (DETA) or
tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA). The amine-functionalized beads were used for
adsorption of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The beads were characterized by
sieve analysis, swelling study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The influences of pH, adsorption time,
initial metal ion concentration, volume of metal ion solution, amine chelating agents
and porogens on the adsorption capacity of the beads were investigated. The
maximum adsorption capacities of (PVBC-g-GMA)-EDA beads were 2.31, 1.31, 0.93
and 0.61 mmol/g for Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Cd(II) ions in single metal ion
solutions, respectively. Comparing with (PVBC-g-GMA)-EDA, the PGMA-EDA
beads were less efficient. Their adsorption capacities were 1.89, 1.14, 0.86 and 0.53
mmol/g for Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Cd(II) ions in single metal ion solutions,
respectively. It was found that these beads can be effectively used for heavy metal
removal from aqueous solutions with repeatedly adsorption-desorption operations.