title: Enhanced selective removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution by novel polyethylenimine-functionalized ion imprinted hydrogel: Behaviors and mechanisms.
abstract: A novel polyethylenimine-functionalized ion-imprinted hydrogel (Cu(II)-p(PEI/HEA)) was newly synthesized by (60)Co-γ-induced polymerization for the selective removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The adsorption performances including the adsorption capacity and selectivity of the novel hydrogel were much better than those of similar adsorbents reported. The hydrogel was characterized via scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine the structure and mechanisms. The adsorption process was pH and temperature sensitive, better fitted to pseudo-second-order equation, and was Langmuir monolayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(II) was 40.00 mg/g. The selectivity coefficients of ion-imprinted hydrogel for Cu(II)/Pb(II), Cu(II)/Cd(II) and Cu(II)/Ni(II) were 55.09, 107.47 and 63.12, respectively, which were 3.93, 4.25 and 3.53 times greater than those of non-imprinted hydrogel, respectively. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of Cu(II)-p(PEI/HEA) could still keep more than 85% after four adsorption-desorption cycles. Because of such enhanced selective removal performance and excellent regeneration property, Cu(II)-p(PEI/HEA) is a promising adsorbent for the selective removal of copper ions from wastewater.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollutant Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollutant Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing 210023, China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: zhkuili@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhengkui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Adsorption mechanism; Heavy metals; Ionic imprinted hydrogel; Polyethylenimine; Selectivity