Adsorption of Cr(VI) on 1,2-ethylenediamine-aminated macroporous polystyrene particles

An adsorbent, 1,2-ethylenediamine-aminated macroporous polystyrene (EDA-PSt) particles was used to adsorb Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Effect of pH value, contact time, temperature, adsorbent dosage and initial Cr(VI) concentration on adsorption amount of Cr(VI) on EDA-PSt were investigated. The results showed that the adsorption isotherm can be well described by the Langmuir equation and the adsorption kinetics fitted to the pseudo-second-order model. According to Langmuir equation, Qm was calculated to be 175.75 mg g−1. The breakthrough curve experiment showed that the dynamic adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) on EDA-PSt was 100.06 mg g−1. The adsorbed Cr(VI) could be desorbed by 0.1 mol L−1 NaOH and the desorption ratio was 67.28%.

► High adsorption amount of EDA-PSt toward Cr(VI).
► High adsorption rate of EDA-PSt toward Cr(VI).
► The adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order model.
► The adsorption data fitted well to Langmuir adsorption isotherm.