Synthesis, characterization and electrical conductivity of Polyaniline-Sn(IV)tungstophosphate hybrid cation exchanger: Analytical application for removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater

• A new and novel hybrid ion exchanger Polyaniline-Sn(IV)tungstophosphate has been synthesized via the sol–gel method.
• It is found to possess better thermal and chemical stability along with ion exchange capacity of 1.101 meq g− 1 for Na+ ions.
• The material is highly selective for Pb2 + ions and thus applied successfully for the treatment of wastewater.
• The electrical conductivity of the material is found to be in semiconductor region (10− 4–10− 3 S cm− 1).

A novel Polyaniline based hybrid cation exchange material has been synthesized by the simple sol–gel method. FTIR, TGA/DTA, XRD, SEM, and TEM have been done for characterization of the material. The preliminary study of the physicochemical properties (ion exchange capacity, pH titrations, effect of concentration and effect of temperatures etc.) was also carried out. The synthesized material has been favored by reproducible and granulometric nature. The material was found to be fairly stable in dilute solution of common acids, bases and most of the organic solvents. On the basis of distribution coefficients (Kd values), the material has been found suitable for some important quantitative binary separations (e.g. Cd2 +–Pb2 +, Zn2 +–Pb2 +, Er3 +–Pb2 +, Zn2 +–Al3 +, Cu2 +–Al3 +) on its columns. The limits of detection and quantification for Pb2 + ions were found to be 0.54 μg L− 1 and 1.8 μg L− 1 respectively. The electrical conductivity of the material was found to be in semiconductor region (10− 4 to 10− 3 S cm− 1). Based on experimental observations it was found to be suitable for the separation and determination of metal pollutants in water samples. The practical utility of the material has been established by the removal of Pb2 + ion from industrial wastewater.