Quantitative analysis and sorption of cadmium in environmental samples with a functionalized synthetic polymer

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of cadmium in environmental samples was achieved with a polymeric sorbent synthesized by copolymerization of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and allyl glycidyl ether/iminodiacetic acid as chelating monomers with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker. The polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The sorption capacity of the functionalized sorbent was 70 mg g⁻¹. The equilibrium sorption data of Cd(II) on polymeric sorbent were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson models. Based on equilibrium adsorption data, the constants at pH 4.2 and 20 °C were determined for the first three as 0.33 (L mg⁻¹), 17.5 (mg g⁻¹) (L mg⁻¹)^1/n, and 12.9 (J mol⁻¹). Recovery of 94% of the metal ion was obtained with 0.5 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid as an eluting agent.

Keywords:

• quantitative analysis
• high capacity sorbent
• cadmium
• preconcentration
• isotherm study

Acknowledgments

The financial support of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, for this project is gratefully acknowledged.