Toxic metal ion removal by terpolymer ion-exchanger from aqueous environments: synthesis, thermal degradation, batch separation, kinetic and isotherm studies

ABSTRACT

A novel chelating resin was synthesized and characterized by elemental, physico-chemical, GPC, NMR, and SEM analyses. Batch separation was adopted to study the recovery of selected metal ions with respect to the pH, time, concentrations, and electrolytes. From the results, it was observed that the order of the rate of metal ion uptake by the resin was Fe³⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Pb²⁺ ions. The adsorption kinetics follows first order, and isotherm models were also found to fit each other. The resin showed three-step thermal degradation, and its kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated.

KEYWORDS:

• Terpolymer
• ion-exchange studies
• kinetics
• isotherm
• thermal analysis

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Management & Dean of SRM University, Chennai and Management & Principal of Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for their support and encouragement. The authors dedicate the article to Dr. A. Burkanudeen who passed away on 28 December 2012.