A novel fabrication of monodisperse melamine-formaldehyde resin microspheres to adsorb lead (II)

Monodisperse melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin microspheres were prepared by dilute solution precipitation polymerization without any surfactant and stabilizer. The optimal preparation conditions and the mechanism of microsphere formation of the microspheres were investigated by microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermal stability, and particle size analysis. The microspheres prepared under optimal conditions had a clean surface, good thermal stability, and a narrow distribution with a mean diameter of about 2.5 μm. In addition, the microsphere had an abundance of amino and imino functional groups that could supply numerous active points for adsorption. From a study of the static and dynamic adsorption of lead (II) (Pb (II)) using MF resin microspheres as the adsorbent, it was found that the resin microspheres showed a fast adsorption and high removal efficiency of Pb (II).