Chelating resins nanofibers for sorption of Fe(II) ions from aqueous solutions: Synthesis, characterization and treatment

Mostafa, Wesam A.; Donia, Shafee G.; El-Sayed, Gamal O.; Kenawy, El-Refaie; Azab, Mohamed M.; Metwally, Amal M.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.415674.12216

Chelating resins nanofibers for sorption of Fe(II) ions from aqueous solutions: Synthesis, characterization and treatment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt

² Polymer research group, Chemistrc Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

10.21608/ejchem.2025.415674.12216

Abstract

Novel chelating resin nanofibers were designed, characterized, and applied to aqueous solutions for sorption of Fe(II) ions. Through three steps, novel chelating resin nanofibers were synthesized. The initial step included the formation of N-methacryloxyphthalimide through condensation of N-hydroxyphthalimide with methacrylic acid (MAA) in the presence of N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a dehydrating agent. In the second step, homopolymerization was carried out for N-methacryloxyphthalimide to obtain poly(N-methacryloxyphthalimide) and then followed by an exchange reaction with o-aminobenzoic acid and o-aminophenol to afford the corresponding chelating resins CR1 and CR2, respectively. The synthesized chelating resins (1,2) were spun into nanofibers by the electrospinning process. The compositions of the chelating resins were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG), and Scanning electron microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Some factors that affect the adsorption process such as the initial concentration of Fe(II), chelating resin doses and the pH of the solution were studied. Isotherm models and thermodynamic parameters play a vital role in clarifying the mechanism of adsorption. From all results, the exothermic nature of the process was shown, and two isotherm models (Langmuir and Temkin) are suitable for explaining the adsorption of Fe(II) onto CR1 with a qmax of 34.48 mg/g. Whereas, the adsorption by CR2 is endothermic in its nature and follows the Freundlich model with a qmax of 33.33 mg/g.

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