High exposure effect of the adsorption site significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity and removal rate: A case of adsorption of hexavalent chromium by quaternary ammonium polymers (QAPs).

Enhancing the performance of adsorbents to the utmost extent is an objective but challenging in applying adsorption technology to wastewater treatment. In this work, novel quaternary ammonium polymers (QAPs) with high density adsorption site (i.e., quaternized N, confirmed by FT-IR results) were designed and prepared for rapid selective removal of Cr(VI) from water. The results of EDS analysis indicated the maximum exposure rate of N on the surface of QAPs was as high as 86.1%, which almost doubled comparing to that of Cr(VI) ions imprinted polymers (Cr(VI)-IIP) (46.2%). Interestingly, the maximum adsorption capacity (211.8 mg/g) and initial adsorption rate (h0 , 66.6 mg/ (g·min)) of QAPs (i.e., 5:1(TRIM)) for Cr(VI) are about 3.6 times and 4.9 times those of Cr(VI)-IIP (63.0 mg/g and 13.5 mg/(g·min)), respectively. Impressively, flow-through adsorption experiments demonstrated 5:1(TRIM) can completely remove 5 mg/L of Cr(VI) within five seconds. Additionally, 5:1(TRIM) exhibited a remarkable selectivity for Cr(VI) adsorption, and high purity (100%) of chromium can be readily obtained. The proposed idea of high exposure effect of the adsorption site can provide a valuable guidance for designing rapid selective adsorbents to remove and reclaim Cr(VI) from wastewater. Schematic Diagram for mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption on QAPs and correlation between exposure rate of N and Q m. [Display omitted] • QAPs is a kind of adsorbent with high density adsorption sites on its surface. • Adsorption capacity (Q m) of QAPs was positively correlated with exposure rate of N. • QAPs exhibit high capacity, rapid adsorption rate for the Cr(VI) adsorption. • QAPs can achieve high purity chromate recovery due to the high selectivity. • QAPs has a good economic benefit in the recovery of chromate from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]