Removal of arsenic (V) from water using arsenic-imprinted nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is the synthesis of nanoparticles with selective arsenic recognition capability for the removal of arsenic from water. Arsenic recognition based molecularly imprinted (As(V)-MIP) were synthesized using the molecular imprinting technique via mini-emulsion polymerization. The synthesized As(V)-MIP nanoparticles were characterized using zeta sizer, zeta potential, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and elemental analysis. The adsorption behavior of nanoparticles was investigated in a batch system at pH 4.0–9.0. The maximum adsorption capacity of As(V)-MIP nanoparticles was determined to be 54.29 mg As/g polymer at pH 5.0. Various parameters such as pH, concentration and adsorption time were examined to determine the optimum adsorption conditions. As(V)-MIP nanoparticle selectivity experiments were conducted in the presence of NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, and SO₄²⁻ anions to determine the relative selectivity coefficients (K’). The experimental data showed a good correlation with the Langmuir isotherm equation and adherence of the adsorption process to pseudo-second-order kinetics was observed. Applying As(V)-MIP nanoparticles to real water sample showed up to 95.3% As(V) removal efficiency. Reusability experiments were performed by renewal of nanoparticles using a 1 M HNO₃ solution containing 0.05% thiourea.

KEYWORDS:

• Arsenic removal
• nanoparticles
• adsorption
• cystein
• molecularly imprinted polymers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).