Note: Zr(IV)-Immobilized Resin Prepared by Surface Template Polymerization for Fluoride Ion Removal

A novel adsorbent Zr(IV)-immobilized resin was prepared to remove fluoride ions from tap water and industrial wastewater. In order to enhance both the kinetics and efficiency, large pathways were formed in the resin for fluoride ion adsorption and the Zr(IV)-phosphate complexes were immobilized on the polymer surface by surface-template polymerization. The Zr(IV)-immobilized resin had a fluoride adsorption capacity of 0.30 mmol/g. The morphology of the Zr(IV)-immobilized resin was evaluated by measuring the specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution. The resin possessed large amounts of large macropores with diameters around 300 nm. The molecular structure at the fluoride adsorption sites was investigated by measuring the amounts of phosphorus, zirconium, and fluoride ion in the resin, and developing a model complex using computational chemistry. On the polymer surface, a fluoride ion/Zr(IV)/dioleyl phosphoric acid complex with an ideal F:Zr:P mole ratio of 3:1:3 could be formed.