Industrializable and pH-tolerant electropositive imidazolium chloride polymer for high-efficiency removal of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids from aqueous solution

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2024-03, Vol.465, p.133095-133095, Article 133095
• Main Authors: Wei, Xiaohui, Liu, Pingping, Bai, Danyang, Zhang, Luyuan, Mao, Hongyan, Zhang, Wenjing, Chen, Tianqi, Yin, Dan, Sun, Tianhua, Zhang, Yanhao, Zhang, Wenfen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Cationic porous organic polymers; Perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids; Recycling
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133095

In recent years, various materials have been used to adsorb and remove perfluoroalkyl compounds from water. However, most of these materials have limited applications due to their high cost, complex synthesis, inadequate selectivity and sensitivity, and, even worse, the possibility of introducing secondary pollution. Here, under mild conditions, we prepared an inexpensive imidazolium chloride and nitrogen-rich polymer (TAGX-Cl) with a high cationic loading rate and a high yield (>82%). The adsorbent exhibits excellent pH tolerance (pH=1–9) and achieves nearly 99.9% removal of nine perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) within 120 min. Experimental data and theoretical simulations confirmed that synergistic electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and P-π interactions control the adsorptive ability of TAGX-Cl. This work provides a practical strategy for PFCAs removal. [Display omitted] •TAGX-Cl was synthesized in high yield by one pot method under mild conditions.•TAGX-Cl could effectively remove nine PFCAs from wastewater with excellent pH-tolerant.•Adsorption mechanism was characterized by both theoretical and experimental data.•The preparation of TAGX-Cl is industrializable ($25/g or less).