title: Synthesis of microcapsules containing different extractant agents.
abstract: Mercury is one of the most toxic pollutants, with high capacity of accumulation in living organism, causing important human health problems. Therefore, the mercury removal from water is an important research goal. In a previous work, an extractant agent [di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid] was microencapsulated in poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) by means of suspension polymerisation using toluene as diluent. In this study, this recipe has been modified changing the toluene by heptane and extended to four additional extractants (trioctylamine, trioctylmethylammonium chloride [TOMAC], tributyl phosphate and trioctylphosphine oxide). The polluting potential of the waste liquid from the process was measured by total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand analyses. The morphology, particle size and distribution were studied by scanning electron microscopy and low angle laser light scattering. The amount of extractant agent into the microcapsules and the microencapsulation efficiency were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and the mercury removal capacity by equilibrium studies. Microcapsules containing TOMAC demonstrated to be the best material for the mercury removal and retention.
authors: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real , Spain.
authors: Ángela
authors: Á
authors: Alcázar
authors: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real , Spain.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Carmona
authors: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real , Spain.
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Borreguero
authors: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real , Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: de Lucas
authors: a Department of Chemical Engineering , Institute of Chemical and Environmental Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real , Spain.
authors: Juan F
authors: JF
authors: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D002214:Capsules / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004339:Drug Compounding; D008628:Mercury / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010755:Organophosphates; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012997:Solvents; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D010755:Organophosphates; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012997:Solvents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C432006:divinylbenzene-polystyrene copolymer; C007377:di-2-(ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid; D002244:Carbon; D008628:Mercury
keywords: Equilibrium parameters; TOMAC; mercury; microencapsulation; polymerisation