Synthesis, characterization of cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-methyl methacrylate-N-(1-phenylethyl) acrylamide) copolymer and removal of copper(II), cobalt(II) ions from aqueous solutions via this copolymer

This study investigates the synthesis and evaluation of a new polymeric adsorbent for adsorbing Cu2+ and Co2+ ions from aqueous solutions. In this study, R-(+)-methylbenzylamine and acryloyl chloride were used to synthesize N-(1-phenylethyl)-acrylamide (PEA) monomer, and the synthesized PEA was characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. Then, using PEA, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers by radical polymerization reaction, cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-methyl methacrylate-N-(1-phenylethyl)acrylamide) (poly(EGDMA-co- MMA-co-PEA) copolymer was obtained. FTIR, solid-NMR, and elemental analysis methods were used to characterize the poly(EGDMA-co-MMA-co-PEA) obtained. Poly(EGDMA-co-MMA)-co-PEA) copolymer was used as an adsorbent in the final stage of the study to remove copper (Cu2+) and cobalt (Co2+) ions from aqueous solutions. The study examined the effects of various variables including contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and pH on adsorption efficiency. The initial concentration, contact time, and solution pH that were found to be most effective for Cu2+ ion removal were 1000 mg/L, 20 min, and 6, respectively. The ideal working parameters for Co2+ removal were determined to be an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L, a contact period of 50 min, and a solution with a pH of 6. While the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ was 185.44 mg/g at 25°C, the adsorption capacity of Co2+ was 123.76 mg/g under the same conditions. The kinetic data were best described by the theoretical adsorption capacity, which was close to the experimentally determined value for the adsorption of Cu2+ and Co2+ ions, and the pseudo-second-order with the highest regression coefficient.