Preparation and Characterization of Polyester–Glycidyl Methacrylate PolyHIPE Monoliths to Use in Heavy Metal Removal

Polyester–glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-based poly(high internal phase emulsion)s (polyHIPEs) with 85% internal phase were prepared by using unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), glycidyl metahacrylate and divinylbenzene (DVB) or styrene (St) with triethanolamine (TEA) as an emulsifier in the presence of a porogen. Porous monoliths were obtained by a removal of internal phase after curing of dispersed phase at 80°C. Morphologies and surface properties of obtained porous monoliths were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauner–Emmet–Teller (BET) molecular adsorption methods. Amine functionalization of epoxy groups of polyHIPEs was achieved by reactions with several amines such as 1,4-ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), 4-aminosalicylic acid (ASA), 2-aminothiazole (ATAL), 4-aminobenzothiazole (ABTAL) and 2-phenylimidazole (PIAL), respectively. The functionalized polyHIPEs were characterized by elemental analysis and the best result was obtained with the 1,4-ethylenediamine (EDA) ligand. The adsorption capacities of the modified monoliths for Ag(I), Cu(II) and Cr(III) were determined under non-competitive conditions at room temperature. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacities of the modified monoliths decrease in order of Ag(I) > Cu(II) > Cr(III) and polyHIPE with 2-phenylimidazole (PIAL) groups is the most effective adsorbent for heavy metal ions.