Studies of Retention and Reusable Capacities of Melamine Formaldehyde Based Terpolymer Against Some Toxic Metal Ions by Batch Equilibrium Method

Abstract

Chelating terpolymer resin was synthesized and characterized by elemental, physico-chemical, spectral, SEM, XRD, and GPC to elucidate the structure and properties of the terpolymer. Ion-exchange analysis involving evaluation of metal ion uptake in different electrolyte concentrations, pH, and time have been studied to assess the retention capacities of the terpolymer for the metal ions viz. Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Pb²⁺. The adsorption isotherm was evaluated using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models and the results were found best fitting with each other. The resin can be successfully used in the field of recovery of metal ions from effluents and contaminated water.

Keywords:

• ion-exchanger
• terpolymer
• isotherm models
• batch separation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the Management and Principal of Oxford Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore and Jamal Mohamed College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, for their support and encouragement. The authors would also like to thank Dr. D. Jeyakumar, Senior Principal Scientist, Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi, for his enormous support throughout the entire research.