SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF MAGNETIC POLYMER/BENTONITE COMPOSITE FOR REMOVAL POLLUTANTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
Project resume:
Porous polymeric sorbents are physically and chemically stable materials. Formation of porous structure can be controlled by adjusting the conditions of their synthesis and the polymer modification reactions by different functional groups, which can give sorbents selective for certain types of chemical compounds or targeted pollutants in wastewater. Regeneration of such sorbents is also possible, and their stability makes it possible to reuse in unchanged form.
Macroporous copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA) (abbreviated: PGME) are specific, hydrophilic sorbents. If amino groups are embedded into their structure, it yields specific sorbents for organic pollutants, as well as heavy metal ions and some radioactive isotopes, which are characterized by a high sorption capacity, fast kinetics and selectivity towards to the corresponding ionic species.
In order to facilitate the separation of saturated sorbent from the treated aqueous solution, magnetic polymer/magnetite (Fe3O4) composites have recently been synthesized and proved to have equally good sorption properties.
Within this project, the synthesis parameters of the polymer/bentonite magnetic composite would be optimized. Also, epoxy groups in GMA will be functionalized via reaction with amines. The obtained composites will be characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
The efficiency of removal of metal ions: Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Cr(VI) and radioactive iodine isotope (131I) would be investigated by the batch sorption experiments from aqueous solutions at different temperatures and pH values using synthesized sorbents. The concentration of the metal ions in the solution after sorption will be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and inductively coupled plasma with optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The radioactive iodine NaI isotope will be determined by gamma scintillation counter.
Project team
dr Zvjezdana Sandić, Assistant Professor Faculty of Science, University of Banja Luka http://www.unibl.org/sr-lat/fis/zaposlen/1419-zvjezdana-sandic | coordinator |
dr Aleksandra Nastasović, Senior Researcher Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemistry, University of Belgrade | leading researcher |
dr Dijana Mihajlović, Assistant Professor Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka | associate |
dr Jasna Džunuzović, Senior Researcher Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemistry, University of Belgrade https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/64036302_Jasna_V_Dzunuzovic | associate |
dr Ivan Stefanović, Research Assistant Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemistry, University of Belgrade | research associate |
dr Ljiljana Suručić, Teaching Assistant Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka | research associate |
Aljoša Stanković, ma, Assistant Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka | research associate |
dr Bojana Marković, Research Assistant Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Chemistry, University of Belgrade | research associate |
Jasić Ines, student Faculty of Science, University of Banja Luka | research associate |