Removal of hazardous materials for environment by porous polymers based on acrylic

In this study, porous and crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymer beads were synthesized by suspension polymerization using toluene/cyclohexane diluent system. Removal of nickel and phenol from aqueus solutions were investigated by using the porous copolymer beads. To obtain the copolymers beads, methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethylen glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) were used as a monomer and a crosslinking agent, respectively. Toluene and cyclohexane were choosen as a diluent system. Different parameters such as the amounts of diluent, crosslinker and initiator, reaction temperature, stirring rate were determined by optimization of experimental conditions in polymerization system. Copolymers with different pore structures were synthesized varying toluene/cyclohaxane ratios and crosslinker content. The influence of diluent composition and crosslinker content on porosity of the beads were investigated. The Copolymer beads were characterised with density, volume swelling ratio, weight swelling ratio, SEM and FT-IR. Porous structure of the copolymer beads was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Ni(II) ion and phenol removal capasities of the copolymer beads were determined in batch system and Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were developed.Keywords: Adsorption, porous polymers, nickel removal, phenol removal