Stable and reusable acrylic ion-exchangers. From HMIs highly polluted tailing pond to safe and clean water

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2022-10, Vol.304, p.135383-135383, Article 135383
• Main Authors: Zaharia, Marius-Mihai, Bucatariu, Florin, Vasiliu, Ana-Lavinia, Mihai, Marcela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Competitive sorption; Macromolecular sorbent; Sorption mechanism; Tarnita sterile dump; Wheat germination test
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135383

The application of several ion-exchange resins (IExR) with amino and amphoteric functionalities in batch retention of heavy metal ions (HMIs) (Cu(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Zn(II)) from mono- and multicomponent simulated waters and from real polluted water collected from tailings pond of Tarnita (Suceava, Romania) sterile dump is deeply herein explored. The tested resins exhibited high sorption capacities, as evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry, results supported by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The effect of pH on the IExR sorption capacity in competitive condition evidenced the optimum pH where IExR sorption efficiency is maximum. Reutilization of IExR in six consecutive sorption/desorption/regeneration cycles showed their renewable sorption properties. Wheat germination tests demonstrated that the Tarnita collected water had a high toxic effect whereas the resulted supernatant after batch sorption was nontoxic. The study shows that HMIs content after IExR sorption is under the admitted maximum level for surface water, and represents an important step on the efforts to solve the environmental problem in Tarnita area, by removing the main contaminants found in the local river water. [Display omitted] •Library of ion-exchange resins with cationic and/or zwitterionic functional groups.•Batch Cu2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ removal from Tarnita tailing pond and synthetic waters.•Coordination, ion exchange, electrostatic interaction and precipitation may occur.•Reutilization in more than six consecutive sorption/desorption/regeneration cycles.•Me2+ concentration after sorption is under admitted maximum level for surface water.