Co-monomer polymer anion exchange resin for removing Cr(VI) contaminants: Adsorption kinetics, mechanism and performance

Modified anion exchange resin (EDE-D301) was synthesized by mixing monomers: epichlorohydrin (ECH), dimethylamine (DMA), ethylenediamine (EDA) with the weakly alkaline anion exchange resin D301 through in-situ polymerization method. Adsorption performance of EDE-D301 for removing Cr(VI) contaminants was investigated in batch and column systems. Physicochemical properties of the anion exchange resins were characterized to determine the adsorption mechanism and regeneration ability. Characteristic results revealed that EDE-D301 showed enhanced surface area, positive charge and contents of N and Cl elements, indicating that the modifying reagents of monomers were successfully polymerized in the resin. The experimental adsorption data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The fixed-bed experiments showed that the exhaustion time increased with increasing the bed depth, and decreased with increasing the flowrate and influent concentration. Adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) onto EDE-D301 was determined at a maximum level of 298 mg·g−1, and remained at 93% after four consecutive cycles. FTIR and XPS analysis indicated that the ion exchange and complexation were responsible for the Cr(VI) adsorption. [Display omitted] •The modified anion exchange resin EDE-D301 was prepared through in-situ polymerization method.•EDE-D301 exhibited higher adsorption capacity and regeneration performance for Cr(VI).•The possible adsorption mechanism of EDE-D301 for Cr(VI) was evaluated and discussed.