Heavy metal ion removal from aqueous solutions by functionalized polyacrylonitrile

We have investigated adsorption of Hg(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Ag(I) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions utilizing functionalized polyacrylonitrile sorbents. By a rapid, simple, and economically feasible route, amine-containing resins based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were prepared through the reaction of polyacrylonitrile with numerous content of diethylenetriamine (DTA), (PAN–DTA50, and PA–DTA 150). The resins and its metal complexes were studied by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was utilized in order to study the surface morphologies. Consequences of analysis verified the presence of metal in the metal–resin complexes. The sorption behavior of the resins for these ions proved that high sorption can be obtained at higher pH values. The highest sorptions for PAN–DTA150 were found to be 1.38 and 1.42mmol/g for Zn(II) and Fe(III), respectively. The dependency of amine capacity of the resins on the content of DTA consumption has been confirmed and the maximum capacity of amine was approximately found to be 5mmol/g for the PAN–DTA50. ►Resins based on polyacrylonitrile and diethylenetriamine are easily prepared. ►Functionalized polyacrylonitrile can be able to adsorb heavy metal ions. ►The larger amounts of sorption depend on pH of solution and the amine content of resins.