Issue 90, 2016, Issue in Progress

Functionalized and reusable polyethylene fibres for Au(iii) extraction from aqueous solution with high adsorption capacity and selectivity

Abstract

A new chelating polyethylene fibre was synthesised by the radiation-induced graft copolymerisation of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres and subsequent ring-opening reaction with 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The chemical structure and surface morphology of the modified fibres were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The adsorption behaviour of the fibrous sorbent for Au(III) was investigated in terms of aqueous-solution pH, contact time, initial metal concentration and competition of coexisting metal ions. Resultant fibres exhibited much higher affinity and selectivity for Au3+ ions than all other metal ions (Mg2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Ni2+ and Cr6+). The affinity coefficient obtained was as high as 97.5–99.9%. The maximum adsorption amount for Au3+ was 429.4 mg g−1. The adsorption of Au(III) followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model controlled by chemical adsorption. The equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir isotherm model well. In particular, this fibrous adsorbent can be regenerated by treatment in 0.5 M thiourea and 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The high adsorption capacity can be maintained after at least five adsorption–desorption cycles.

Graphical abstract: Functionalized and reusable polyethylene fibres for Au(iii) extraction from aqueous solution with high adsorption capacity and selectivity

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Jun 2016
Accepted
07 Sep 2016
First published
08 Sep 2016

RSC Adv., 2016,6, 87221-87229

Functionalized and reusable polyethylene fibres for Au(III) extraction from aqueous solution with high adsorption capacity and selectivity

L. Pang, R. Li, Q. Gao, J. Hu, Z. Xing, M. Zhang, M. Wang and G. Wu, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 87221 DOI: 10.1039/C6RA14202H

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