Fabrication, characterization and antimicrobial activity of polyaniline Th(IV) tungstomolybdophosphate nanocomposite material: Efficient removal of toxic metal ions from water

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2014-09, Vol.251, p.413-421
• Main Authors: Sharma, Gaurav, Pathania, Deepak, Naushad, Mu, Kothiyal, N.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Binary separations; Ion exchanger; PANI/TWMP nanocomposite; Toxic metals
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.04.074

[Display omitted] •PANI/TWMP nanocomposite was prepared using sol–gel technique.•PANI/TWMP had higher ion exchange capacity compared to TWMP.•The incorporation of polyaniline provided mechanical strength and support to TWMP.•Selective separation of Cu2+ and Pb2+ metals was achieved on column of PANI/TWMP.•PANI/TWMP showed promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Polyaniline Th(IV) tungstomolybdophosphate (PANI/TWMP) nanocomposite ion exchanger was prepared via sol–gel method by mixing polyaniline gel into the inorganic precipitates of Th(IV) tungstomolybdophosphate (TWMP). The PANI/TWMP nanocomposite ion exchanger was well characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. Thermal stability, elution behavior, effect of eluent concentration and pH titrations curves of PANI/TWMP were also investigated. The study revealed that PANI/TWMP nancomposite had higher ion exchange capacity (1.07meq/g) compared to its inorganic counterpart TWMP (0.78meq/g) and organic counterpart PANI (0.30meq/g). The PANI/TWMP nanocomposite ion exchanger was found thermally stable and retained 53.27% ion exchange capacity upto 400°C. On the basis of selectivity studies, some important binary separations were also achieved to explore the potential application of PANI/TWMP in the environmental analysis of toxic heavy metals. PANI/TWMP was also effectively used in separations of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from synthetic mixtures of metal ions.