No abstract

The effect of biopolymer (BP) on polymer obtained from high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) polymerization was studied. Divinylbenzene (DVB) and mixed surfactants were used in emulsion preparation. More BP could be added to the poly(DVB)HIPE when the amount of mixed surfactant was increased. The highest possible BP wt% in the BP-poly(DVB)HIPE was 77 wt%. The structure of polyHIPE before and after loading BP showed a highly interconnected pore network. The surface area decreased when the amount of BP increased. The CO 2 adsorption capacity of BP-poly(DVB)HIPE was measured to be 0.173 mmol/g in the moisturized condition.

The potential of rice straw, agricultural waste, to remove copper (II) from aqueous solution was evaluated in a batch process. Experiments were carried out as function of contact time, initial concentration, pH and temperature. Adsorption isotherms were modeled with the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. The data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm. The equilibrium biosorption isotherms showed that biosorbent possess high affinity and sorption capacity for Cu(II) ions, with sorption capacities of 74.70 mg Cu 2+ per 1 g biomass. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°) and entropy change (ΔS°) have been calculated on the basis of Langmuir constants. The results indicated that the rice straw could be an alternative for more costly adsorbents used for heavy metal removal.