Modelling mercury sorption of a polysulfide coating made from sulfur and limonene. Issue 20 (13th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Worthington, Max J. H.; Mann, Maximilian; Muhti, Ismi Yusrina; Tikoalu, Alfrets D.; Gibson, Christopher T.; Jia, Zhongfan; Miller, Anthony D.; Chalker, Justin M.
• Is Part Of: Physical chemistry chemical physics. Volume 24:Issue 20(2022)
• Page Start: 12363
• Page End: 12373
• Publication Date: 2022-05-13
• Subjects: Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; 541.3
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01903e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9076

Abstract

Abstract : Detailed kinetic modelling of mercury uptake for a sulfur-limonene copolymer was undertaken. The effect of pH and salt concentration on mercury sorption, as well as selectivity, was assessed for the first time for this mercury-binding polymer. Abstract : A polymer made from sulfur and limonene was used to coat silica gel and then evaluated as a mercury sorbent. A kinetic model of mercury uptake was established for a range of pH values and concentrations of sodium chloride. Mercury uptake was generally rapid from pH = 3 to pH = 11. At neutral pH, the sorbent (500 mg with a 10 : 1 ratio of silica to polymer) could remove 90% of mercury within one minute from a 100 mL solution containing 5 ppm HgCl2 and 99% over 5 minutes. It was found that sodium chloride, at concentrations comparable to seawater, dramatically reduced mercury uptake rates and capacity. It was also found that the spent sorbent was stable in acidic and neutral media, but degraded at pH 11 which led to mercury leaching. These results help define the conditions under which the sorbent could be used, which is an important advance for using this material in remediation processes.