Preparation and Characterization of Polyester-Glycidyl Methacrylate PolyHIPE Monoliths to Use in Heavy Metal Removal

Abstract

Polyester-glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-based poly(high internal phase emulsion)s (polyHIPEs) with 85% internal phase were prepared by using unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), glycidyl metahacrylate and divinylbenzene (DVB) or styrene (St) with triethanolamine (TEA) as an emulsifier in the presence of a porogen. Porous monoliths were obtained by a removal of internal phase after curing of dispersed phase at 80 degrees C. Morphologies and surface properties of obtained porous monoliths were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauner-Emmet-Teller (BET) molecular adsorption methods. Amine functionalization of epoxy groups of polyHIPEs was achieved by reactions with several amines such as 1,4-ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), 4-aminosalicylic acid (ASA), 2-aminothiazole (ATAL), 4-aminobenzothiazole (ABTAL) and 2-phenylimidazole (PIAL), respectively. The functionalized polyHIPEs were characterized by elemental analysis and the best result was obtained with the 1,4-ethylenediamine (EDA) ligand. The adsorption capacities of the modified monoliths for Ag(I), Cu(II) and Cr(III) were determined under non-competitive conditions at room temperature. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of the modified monoliths decrease in order of Ag(I) > Cu(II) > Cr(III) and polyHIPE with 2-phenylimidazole (PIAL) groups is the most effective adsorbent for heavy metal ions. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2012