Journal of Materials Science

, Volume 50, Issue 17, pp 5799–5808 | Cite as

Eco-friendly and cost-effective superabsorbent sodium polyacrylate composites for environmental remediation

Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

In this research, we synthesized superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) based on poly(acrylic acid) with super adsorption properties through a novel one-step cost-effective method. The SAPs’ adsorption for removal of heavy metal ions [e.g., Cu(II)] from aqueous solutions was systematically studied. The effects of pH (2.0–5.0), sodium hydroxide and water composition, contact time (0–48 h), and initial Cu(II) ion concentrations (1–500 mg dm−3) on the adsorption of Cu(II) ions were studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption behavior was fitted to a Langmuir isotherm and shown to follow a pseudo-second-order reaction model. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cu(II) ions were shown to be 243.91 mg g−1 for sodium polyacrylate (PAANa), which is among the highest adsorption capacities reported in the literature. The superior adsorption capacity of Cu(II) ions is attributed to the chelating ability of functional groups (e.g., –COO−) in the PAANa matrix. The recyclability of the PAANa material showed that over 98.92 % of the adsorbed copper could be recovered in a mild concentration (0.01 M) of nitric acid. Results of three consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles showed that the composites had high adsorption and desorption efficiency, implying that PAANa samples can be recycled and reused as an effective adsorbent for Cu(II) recovery.

Keywords

Adsorption Capacity Acrylic Acid COOH Group Nitric Acid Solution Maximum Adsorption Capacity 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgements

Y Tang is grateful for the support of the Australian Research Council (ARC) with a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Grant (DE120102784) for the research work.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

References

  1. 1.
    Anirudhan TS, Rijith S (2009) Glutaraldehyde cross-linked epoxyaminated chitosan as an adsorbent for the removal and recovery of copper(II) from aqueous media. Colloids Surf A 351:52–59CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Chan A, Salsali H, McBean E (2014) Heavy metal removal (copper and zinc) in secondary effluent from wastewater treatment plants by microalgae. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2:130–137CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Gollavelli G, Chang CC, Ling YC (2013) Facile synthesis of smart magnetic graphene for safe drinking water: heavy metal removal and disinfection control. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1:462–472CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Chiron N, Guilet R, Deydier E (2003) Adsorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II) onto a grafted silica: isotherms and kinetic models. Water Res 37:3079–3086CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Chang JH, Ellis AV, Tung CH, Huang WC (2010) Copper cation transport and scaling of ionic exchange membranes using electrodialysis under electroconvection conditions. J Membr Sci 361:56–62CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Unuabonah EI, Günter C, Weber J, Lubahn S, Taubert A (2013) Hybrid clay: a new highly efficient adsorbent for water treatment. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1:966–973CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Ayoub A, Venditti RA, Pawlak JJ, Salam A, Hubbe MA (2013) Novel hemicellulose-chitosan biosorbent for water desalination and heavy metal removal. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1:1102–1109CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Liu P, Jiang L, Zhu L, Wang A (2014) Attapulgite/poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite (ATP/PAA) hydrogels with multifunctionalized attapulgite (org-ATP) nanorods as unique cross-linker: preparation optimization and selective adsorption of Pb(II) Ion. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2:643–651CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Hashim MA, Mukhopadhyay S, Sahu JN, Sengupta B (2011) Remediation technologies for heavy metal contaminated groundwater. J Environ Manag 92:2355–2388CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Gong JP, Katsuyama Y, Kurokawa T, Osada Y (2003) Double-network hydrogels with extremely high mechanical strength. Adv Mater 15:1155–1158CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Zohuriaan-Mehr MJ, Kabiri K (2008) Superabsorbent polymer materials: a review. Iran Polym J 17:451–477Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Wang Q, Mynar JL, Yoshida M, Lee E, Lee M, Okuro K, Kinbara K, Aida T (2010) High-water-content mouldable hydrogels by mixing clay and a dendritic molecular binder. Nature 463:339–343CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Zheng Y, Wang A (2010) Enhanced adsorption of ammonium using hydrogel composites based on chitosan and halloysite. J Macromol Sci Pure Appl Chem 47:33–38CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Haraguchi K, Takehisa T (2002) Nanocomposite hydrogels: a unique organic-inorganic network structure with extraordinary mechanical, optical, and swelling/De-swelling properties. Adv Mater 14:1120–1124CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Estrada AC, Daniel-Da-Silva AL, Trindade T (2013) Photothermally enhanced drug release by κ-carrageenan hydrogels reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. RSC Adv 3:10828–10836CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Wang X, Zheng Y, Wang A (2009) Fast removal of copper ions from aqueous solution by chitosan-g-poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite composites. J Hazard Mater 168:970–977CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Xu X, Bai B, Ding C, Wang H, Suo Y (2015) Synthesis and properties of an ecofriendly superabsorbent composite by grafting the poly(acrylic acid) onto the surface of dopamine-coated sea buckthorn branches. Ind Eng Chem Res 54:3268–3278CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Zheng Y, Hua S, Wang A (2010) Adsorption behavior of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions onto starch-g-poly (acrylic acid)/sodium humate hydrogels. Desalination 263:170–175CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Wu N, Li Z (2013) Synthesis and characterization of poly(HEA/MALA) hydrogel and its application in removal of heavy metal ions from water. Chem Eng J 215–216:894–902CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Laftah WA, Hashim S (2012) Synthesis, optimization, characterization and agricultural field evaluation of polymer hydrogel composites based on poly acrylic acid and micro-fiber of oil palm empty fruit bunch. Int J Plast Technol 16:166–181CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Yu Y, Addai-Mensah J, Losic D (2012) Functionalized diatom silica microparticles for removal of mercury ions. Sci Technol Adv Mater 13(1):015008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Wang W, Kang Y, Wang A (2013) One-step fabrication in aqueous solution of a granular alginate-based hydrogel for fast and efficient removal of heavy metal ions. J Polym Res 20:101–110CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Zhang J, Wang Q, Wang A (2007) Synthesis and characterization of chitosan-g-poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite superabsorbent composites. Carbohydr Polym 68:367–374CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Wang J, Wang W, Wang A (2010) Synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviors of hydroxyethyl cellulose-g-poly(acrylic acid)/attapulgite superabsorbent composite. Polym Eng Sci 50:1019–1027CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Ibrahim M, Nada A, Kamal DE (2005) Density functional theory and FTIR spectroscopic study of carboxyl group. Indian J Pure Appl Phys 43:911–917Google Scholar
  26. 26.
    Larsen OFA, Woutersen S (2004) Vibrational relaxation of the H2O bending mode in liquid water. J Chem Phys 121:12143–12145CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. 27.
    Finocchio E, Macis E, Raiteri R, Busca G (2007) Adsorption of trimethoxysilane and of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane on silica and on silicon wafers from vapor phase: an IR study. Langmuir 23:2505–2509CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Ismi I, Rifi EH, Lebkiri A, Oudda H (2015) Spectral characterization of pana under two polymeric forms and their complex PA-Cu. J Mater Environ Sci 6:343–348Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Çavuş S, Gürdaǧ GL (2009) Noncompetitive removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions by poly[2-(acrylamido)-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid-co-itaconic acid] hydrogel. Ind Eng Chem Res 48:2652–2658CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    Pourjavadi A, Soleyman R, Barajee GR (2008) Novel nanoporous superabsorbent hydrogel based on poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto salep: synthesis and swelling behavior. Starch 60:467–475CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. 31.
    Sugahara Y, Ohta T (2001) Synthesis of starch-graft-polyacrylonitrile hydrolyzate and its characterization. J Appl Polym Sci 82:1437–1443CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Lee CI, Yang WF, Chio CS (2006) Utilization of water clarifier sludge for copper removal in a liquid fluidized-bed reactor. J Hazard Mater 129:58–63CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Zhang S, Shu X, Zhou Y, Huang L, Hua D (2014) Highly efficient removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions using poly(acrylic acid)-functionalized microspheres. Chem Eng J 253:55–62CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    Yu Y, Shapter JG, Popelka-Filcoff R, Bennett JW, Ellis AV (2014) Copper removal using bio-inspired polydopamine coated natural zeolites. J Hazard Mater 273:174–182CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Lin J, Zhan Y, Zhu Z (2011) Adsorption characteristics of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution onto humic acid-immobilized surfactant-modified zeolite. Colloids Surf A 384:9–16CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Yu Y, Murthy BN, Shapter JG, Constantopoulos KT, Voelcker NH, Ellis AV (2013) Benzene carboxylic acid derivatized graphene oxide nanosheets on natural zeolites as effective adsorbents for cationic dye removal. J Hazard Mater 260:330–338CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    Al-Ghouti MA, Khraisheh MAM, Ahmad MNM, Allen S (2009) Adsorption behaviour of methylene blue onto Jordanian diatomite: a kinetic study. J Hazard Mater 165:589–598CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Ho YS (2004) Selection of optimum sorption isotherm. Carbon 42:2115–2116CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. 39.
    Ismi I, Elaidi H, Rifi E, Labkiri A, Skalli A (2014) Kinetics and isotherms studies on Cu2+ adsorption unto PANa bead form from aqueous solutions. Inter J Sci Eng Res 5:701–706Google Scholar
  40. 40.
    Kraus A, Jainae K, Unob F, Sukpirom N (2009) Synthesis of MPTS-modified cobalt ferrite nanoparticles and their adsorption properties in relation to Au(III). J Colloid Interface Sci 338:359–365CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    Freundlich HMF (1906) Over the adsorption in solution. J Phys Chem 57:385–470Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    Baba Y, Ohe K, Kawasaki Y, Kolev SD (2006) Adsorption of mercury(II) from hydrochloric acid solutions on glycidylmethacrylate-divinylbenzene microspheres containing amino groups. React Funct Polym 66:1158–1164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    Alslaibi TM, Abustan I, Ahmad MA, Foul AA (2013) Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption of iron(II), lead(II), and copper(II) onto activated carbon prepared from olive stone waste. Desalin Water Treat 52:7887–7897CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    Kołodyńska D (2011) Chitosan as an effective low-cost sorbent of heavy metal complexes with the polyaspartic acid. Chem Eng J 173:520–529CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    Wang J, Liu F, Wei J (2011) Enhanced adsorption properties of interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels for heavy metal ion removal. Polym Bull 67:1709–1720CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    Chen Y, Chen L, Bai H, Li L (2013) Graphene oxide-chitosan composite hydrogels as broad-spectrum adsorbents for water purification. J Mater Chem A 1:1992–2001CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Yang Yu
    • 1
  • Rengui Peng
    • 1
  • Cheng Yang
    • 2
  • Youhong Tang
    • 1
  1. 1.Centre for NanoScale Science & Technology and Centre for Maritime Engineering, Control and Imaging, School of Computer Science, Engineering and MathematicsFlinders UniversityBedford ParkAustralia
  2. 2.Division of Energy & Environment, Graduate School of ShenzhenTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina

Personalised recommendations