A new type of poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/peat/clay composite bead was prepared and shown to be suitable for use as an adsorbent. The mass transport process for the adsorption of metal ions onto the composite beads in an aqueous system was investigated. In the external mass transport process, the rate of ion diffusion decreased and increased with increasing initial metal ion concentrations for Pb+2and Zn+2 ions, respectively. In the intraparticle diffusion process, the diffusion coefficient decreased with increasing initial metal ion concentrations in the range of 1×10-3 to 4×10-3 M, and the diffusion coefficient maintained an almost constant value in the range of 6×10-3 to 22×10-3 M. The rate of ion diffusion within the adsorbent for the Pb+2 ions was faster than that for the Zn+2 ions. The adsorption mechanism was controlled by the intraparticle diffusion process. The maximum amount of adsorbed metal ions at adsorption equilibrium for Pb+2 and Zn+2 ions in this study was 134.57 and 13.28 mg/g composite bead, respectively.

Pol3ester polyurethane cationomers are prepared using polyester polyol of molecular weight 2000 as soft segments, N-methyl diethanolamine as chain extender, glycolic acid as quaternization agent, methyl ethyl ketone as solvent, and 4,4'-diphenylenemethylene diisocyanate (MDI) as diisocyanate. Properties of the fihns cast from solutions and emulsions are studied by infrared spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile-elongation testing. Ionization can cause phase separation and produces increased cohesion in the hard domains. The dispersion process can be divided into three stages involving a separation of hard segment aggregates due to adsorption of water on their surface, water entering into hard segment microionic lattics, and finally a rearrangement of agglomerates to form microspheres. The dispersion can disrupt the order in the hard domains and an increased phase separation.