Sorption studies of chromium(VI) onto new ion exchanger with tertiary amine, quaternary ammonium and ketone groups

A new acrylic anion exchanger with both tertiary and quaternary ammonium as well as ketone groups in the structural unit has been prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of aminolyzed vinylacetate:acrylonitrile:divinylbenzene copolymer of porosity structure in the swelling state with 2-chloroacetone as a halogenated compound. The new compound exhibits better qualities of strong base exchange capacity than the weak base anion exchangers. The obtained acrylic anion exchanger was used to remove Cr(VI) from the aqueous solution. Batch adsorption studies have been carried out to determine the effect of contact time, concentration of hexavalent chromium in the solution and pH on the sorption capacity. The kinetic parameters were determined on the basis of the static results. The thermodynamic parameters of Cr(VI) sorption process on the anion exchanger were calculated based on the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Sorption was studied in the pH range of 1.5-7 and it was found that it depends on the solution acidity. At the pH values of 3.5 and 7 the anion exchanger exhibited large values of chromium sorption capacity. The speciation of chromium was investigated in the studied pH range by the Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) method. Reduction of chromium(VI) to chromium(III) under acidic conditions was observed. The performed acrylic strong base anion exchanger is superior compared to the conventional one based on the styrene:divinylbenzene matrix due to its ability for reposition of the long spacer arm for providing exchange sites, hydrophilic character of matrix, and possible hydrogen bonds provided by carbonyl functional groups.