Preparation, characterization, and application of polypropylene-clinoptilolite composites for the selective adsorption of lead from aqueous media

作者：Motsa Machawe M; Mamba Bhekie B^*; Thwala Justice M; Msagati Titus A M

来源：Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2011, 359(1): 210-219.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcis.2011.02.067

• Polypropylene
• Clinoptilolite
• Composites
• Lead
• Adsorption

A polymer composite of polypropylene (PP) and clinoptilolite (CLI) for the adsorption of lead has been prepared using the melt-mixing compounding technique in a rheomixer. Characterization of the composite was performed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunuer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influence of contact time, pH, initial metal-ion concentration, temperature, and pretreatment on the adsorption of lead (Pb) by the PP-CLI composite was investigated. Optimum pH was found to be between pH 6 and pH 8 while the maximum sorption of lead at optimal pH was 95%. No difference was observed between the adsorption behavior of composites functionalized with 20% and 30% clinoptilolite, respectively, while the pretreatment with HCl and NaCl made a slight difference to the adsorption capacity of composites. The findings from this study on the lead adsorption behavior of CLI-PP composite may have potential applications in wastewater and water purification works.

• 出版日期2011-7-1