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Synthesis of Cross-Linked Pyrazine-Based Polymers for Selective Removal of Mercury(II) Ions from Wastewater Solutions

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Abstract

The study represents the synthesis and characterization of two new pyrazine-based polymers to remove mercury(II) ions from wastewater solutions. The polymers were synthesized via the polycondensation of 2,6-diaminopyrazine (MXR-1) or 2,3-diaminopyrazine (MXR-2) with terepthaldehyde and glacial acetic acid as a catalyst. The polymerization reactions revealed the formation of a polyamine (MXR-1) and a polyimine (MXR-2). The SEM–EDX analysis showed a sphere-like structure for MXR-1 with a surface area of 56 m2/g, whereas MXR-2 showed a sheet-like structure with a surface area of 26 m2/g, the higher surface area of MXR-1 showed better adsorption capacity compared to MXR-2. The efficiency of the new polymers was tested to remove mercury ions at low concentrations from wastewater solutions. The effect of concentration on the adsorption capacity of MXR-1 to mercury ions showed that the experimental data fitted both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, indicating homogeneous and heterogenous adsorption, respectively, whereas MXR-2 fitted the Freundlich isotherm model. The effect of time on the adsorption capacity study revealed that the adsorption is chemisorption in nature by pseudo-second-order kinetic model for both MXR-1 and MXR-2 polymers. The thermodynamic properties revealed that the adsorption process is endothermic in nature. The new polymers were tested on spiked wastewater samples and showed the superiority of MXR-1 polymer over MXR-2 with higher efficiency in the removal of mercury from wastewater solutions with a 95% removal efficiency. The study reveals the potency of MXR-1 polymer as an adsorbent for wastewater purification.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the support provided by Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

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  1. Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Rakan B. AlRashidi & Othman Charles S. Al Hamouz

  2. Interdisciplinary Research Center for Hydrogen and Energy Storage, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Othman Charles S. Al Hamouz

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Rakan AlRashidi was involved methodology of the work, investigation, formal analysis, resources, and software. Othman Charles S. Al Hamouz helped in visualization, supervision, investigation, and writing—review and editing.

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AlRashidi, R.B., Al Hamouz, O.C.S. Synthesis of Cross-Linked Pyrazine-Based Polymers for Selective Removal of Mercury(II) Ions from Wastewater Solutions. Arab J Sci Eng 47, 7207–7218 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-022-06833-2

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