Removing small molecules, including dyes (e.g., Rhodamine B) from wastewater is progressively becoming an essential part of the water treatment process. This is due to the growing global industrialization and the significant environmental and health risks associated with certain dyes. In this study, the removal of Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions was investigated using highly porous high-sulfur content polymers (PSPs) synthesized through a two-step process: (i) inverse vulcanization (IV) - forming a non-porous polymer network, and (ii) carbonization - to create a porous structure. Specifically, 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene (1,3-DIB) and linseed oil (LO) were used as crosslinkers in IV, producing poly(S-1,3-DIB) and poly(S-LO), respectively. In the carbonization step, the sulfur polymers were heated to high temperatures (700-800 °C) in the presence of KOH (0.5-2 g), with removal efficiencies of over 98% achieved. The effects of various operational parameters on the adsorption process were evaluated, including pH, zero-point charge, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, UV-C irradiation, contact time, and temperature. Furthermore, adsorption mechanisms were examined through isotherm analysis, kinetic models, and thermodynamic properties. Additionally, photocatalytic degradation studies were performed under UV-C light with the addition of titanium dioxide ( TiO 2 ) , with both TiO 2 and PSPs acting as photocatalysts. This synergy increased Rhodamine B degradation, indicating that the PSP/TiO 2 composites exhibit dual functionality in dye removal. This study represents a novel application of sulfur polymers for the removal of organic dyes, expanding the scope of inverse vulcanization materials beyond heavy-metal adsorption. • Porous Sulfur Polymers (PSPs) were synthesised using 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene and linseed oil as crosslinking agents, a selection of which were carbonised to increase their surface areas further. • PSPs demonstrated a high adsorption efficiency of Rhodamine B over multiple use cycles. • Carbonised PSPs are able to adsorb and break down ( via photocatalysis) effectively Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions over a wide pH range.
Amirjanov et al. (Fri,) studied this question.