The preparation of modified boehmite/PMMA nanocomposites by in situ polymerization and the assessment of their capability for Cu2+ ion removal

Novel organic-inorganic sorbents with good accessible chemically active sites were synthesized and employed for the adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. Sorbents based on silane modified nano-boehmite and poly(methyl methacrylate) (MBNCs) were prepared using nano-boehmite contents of 1, 2 and 3 wt% via an in situ polymerization method and their chemical, textural, and structural properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and FT-IR methods. The in situ method was applied because of a higher percent of polymerization in the nano-boehmite filler matrix compared to other methods. The efficiency of the three types of MBNCs for Cu(II) adsorption was examined under the influence of solution pH, contact time, and the batch sorption kinetics for three reaction kinetic models including pseudo second order, Elovich equation and intra-particle diffusion. The intra particle diffusion model exhibited the two steps occurring during the adsorption process. In addition, MBNC 3% exhibited a highly effective removal capability for Cu(II) ions in comparison to the other two types.