Zinc selective nano‐hybrid cation exchanger carboxymethyl cellulose Zr(IV) tungstate: Sol‐gel synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and analytical applications

Abstract

Nano‐hybrid cation‐exchanger, carboxymethyl cellulose Zr(IV) tungstate was synthesized in the presence of surfactant. Physicochemical properties like thermal stability, surface morphology, particle size, and composition were evaluated by using thermogravimetric analysis/diffrential thermal analysis/diffrential thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA/DTG), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission elctron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) techniques. The ion exchange properties such as ion exchange capacity, elution behavior, eluent concentration, thermal effects, and pH titration were also performed to validate ion exchange behavior of synthesized material. Incorporation of carboxymethyl cellulose into the matrices of inorganic gels of Zr(IV) tungstate resulted enhanced ion exchange capacity and better mechanical stability of nano‐hybrid cation exchanger. A series of experiments were carried out for selective separation of Zn(II) ions from aqueous solutions of two‐component mixtures of heavy metal ions such as Zn(II)‐Hg(II), Zn(II)‐Cd(II), Zn(II)‐Ni(II), and Zn(II)‐Mg(II). The distribution studies showed that the synthesized nano‐hybrid cation‐exchanger is highly selective to Zn(II) ions. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2057–2066, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers