Synthesis and characterization of gel beads based on ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid: Removal of Fe(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) from metal finishing wastewater

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and zeta potential measurements were used in the characterization of the gel beads. The gel beads showed preference mainly towards Fe(II). Ninety-seven percent of Fe(II) sorption was completed in the first 5 min, which increased to 97.7% in 30 min. And also, the sorption kinetics of the metal ions on the gel bead was analyzed with two sorption models, which is the Lagergren pseudo-first order and the pseudo-second order equations. While the sorption mechanism of the metal ions was not in accordance with a first-order model, it well fits the second-order model. The order in the sorption capacity was as follows: Fe(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Ni(II).