Modification and characterization of PET fibers for fast removal of Hg(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) metal ions from aqueous solutions

J Hazard Mater. 2013 Apr 15:250-251:122-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.056. Epub 2013 Jan 31.

Abstract

A new chelating fiber (PET-TSC) was prepared with PET for fast removal of Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+) from water. Elemental analysis, SEM, BET surface area, (13)C NMR, FTIR and X-ray diffraction spectra were used to characterize PET-TSC. The higher uptake capacity of the studied metal ions was observed at higher pH values. Kinetic study indicated that the adsorption of Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+) followed the pseudo-second-order equation, suggesting chemical sorption as the rate-limiting step of the adsorption process. The best interpretation for the equilibrium data was given by Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 120.02, 96.81 and 78.08 mg/g for Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+) ions, respectively. 1M HCl or 0.1M EDTA could be used as effective eluant to desorb the Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and Co(2+) adsorbed by PET-TSC, and the adsorption capacity of PET-TSC for the three heavy metal ions could still be maintained at about 90% level at the 5th cycle. Accordingly, it is expected that PET-TSC could be used as a promising adsorbent for fast removal of heavy metal ions from water, and the present work also might provide a simple and effective method to reuse the waste PET fibers.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylonitrile / chemistry
  • Adsorption
  • Chelating Agents
  • Cobalt / isolation & purification*
  • Copper / isolation & purification*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mercury / isolation & purification*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Semicarbazides / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Temperature
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Chelating Agents
  • Ions
  • Semicarbazides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Cobalt
  • thiosemicarbazide
  • Copper
  • Mercury
  • Acrylonitrile