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Excess metal pollutant has affected and caused serious havoc in the lives of terrestrial as well as aquatic beings. The core of this work revolves around eradicating highly toxic heavy metal ions from underground water systems using a cost-effective, high removal efficiency polymeric adsorbent capable of adsorbing and removing ionic metals whose backbone is composed of a bio-degradable polymer, Polyvinyl alcohol. The obtained adsorbent was characterized using FT-IR, HNMR, and P-XRD. Morphological studies were carried out using SEM. Detection and adsorption of metal ions were performed using SEM-EDX and AAS; wherein the adsorbent was found to remove nearly 80% of Arsenic ions, 70.5% and 70.7% for Lead and Chromium ions while 60.7% for Cadmium ions respectively. Further, the kinetics of adsorption along with intraparticle diffusion studies were also performed to determine the mechanism alongside observing the isothermal influence of the sorbent. The adsorption capacity was seen to be highest in Arsenic at around 570.42mg/g thus acting as a potential and effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from groundwater.

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Toxic organic solvents are constantly being cast out causing serious issues to the environment. In this work, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based organogel has been prepared by modification with a long‐chain fatty acid via condensation method without the use of any cross‐linker. Organogel or the semi‐solid material has been used as a sorbent for solvent absorption from the polluted water surface. The prepared organogel was characterized by Fourier Transform‐Infrared Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Wide‐Angle X‐Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Thermogravimetric Analysis while contact angle measurements were also performed. The gel was used as a sorbent for the absorption of organic solvents. The swelling ratio was examined and exhibited absorption performance of 534% with reusable and retention properties. Experiments were performed to find the maximum absorption capacity at 875.5 (g/g), establishing kinetics of second order reaction. The gel can be extracted by scooping after absorption. Thus, making it an effective and ideal material for the removal of a wide array of organic solvents.

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