Efficient Removal of Cd(II) and PB(II) Ions Using Innovatively Functionalized Poly(2,5‐Dihydro‐2,5‐Dimethoxyfuran) for Water Treatment Applications

In this work, a novel polymeric adsorbent was synthesized via the cationic polymerization of cis, trans‐2,5‐dihydro‐2,5‐dimethoxyfuran (DHMF), a renewable monomer derived from biomass. To improve its adsorption performance, synthesized poly(2,5‐dihydro,2,5‐dimethoxyfuran), pDHMF, was chemically modified with NaOH and CS 2 . The NaOH‐modified polymer (NaOH/pDHMF) and CS 2 ‐modified polymer (CS 2 /pDHMF) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis, and BET surface area analysis techniques. The synthesized and modified polymers were used in a batch system to remove Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from the aqueous solutions. At a contact time of 120 min, pDHMF exhibited a higher adsorption capacity for Pb(II) (51.00 mg·g −1 at 500 mg·L −1 ) compared to Cd(II) (42.38 mg·g −1 at 800 mg·L −1 ). Pb(II) adsorption capacities on CS 2 /pDHMF and NaOH/pDHMF were determined as 110.00 and 156.00 mg·g −1 at 500 mg·L −1 , respectively. Cd(II) adsorption capacities on CS 2 /pDHMF and NaOH/pDHMF were determined as 87.65 and 78.00 mg·g −1 at 800 mg·L −1 , respectively. The results indicated that the modifications with NaOH and CS 2 significantly enhanced the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity. The adsorption studies were analyzed in terms of kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic parameters, and the adsorption reaction was found to follow pseudo‐second order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model.