Novel Lignin-Poly(N-methylaniline) Composite Sorbent for Silver Ion Removal and Recovery

Lignin poly(N-methylaniline) (lignin-PNMA) nanocomposites were synthesized via a chemical oxidative polymerization of N-methylaniline in the presence of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL). The lignin-PNMA composite consists of well size-distributed particles of 68.3 nm in mean diameter. This nanocomposite was further used as a novel sorbent for silver ions from aqueous solution. The lignin-PNMA nanocomposite particles exhibited excellent an adsorption property of silver ions compared to those of poly(N-methylaniline) and EHL. The saturated capacity of silver ions onto the lignin-PNMA nanocomposites was up to 1556.8 mg g(-1) at 30 degrees C. Characterization results of the sorption product, i.e., lignin-PNMA nanocomposite particles after sorption, revealed that silver nanoparticles were achieved on the surface of lignin-PNMA nanocomposite particles. The results indicated that lignin-PNMA nanocomposites can be effectively used as a reactive sorbent to remove and recover silver ions from aqueous solution.