SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF A POLYMER SORBENT BASED ON ORTHO-DIAMINOBENZENE AND EPOXY RESIN FOR WATER AND FOOD PURIFICATION FROM HEAVY METALS AND MICROPLASTICS

A new polymer sorbent with high absorption capacity for heavy metal ions was obtained by condensation of o-phenylenediamine, epoxy resin, formaldehyde and ethylenediamine at a molar ratio of components of 2:1:2:2. In accordance with the original components, the sorbent was named o-PhDEP. The composition of the obtained sorbent has been confirmed with IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The IR spectra of the polymer and the key initial reagent, o-phenylenediamine, were compared. The optimal conditions for the processes of sorption and desorption of metals by the new sorbent were studied. It was found that it has high absorption (sorbing) capacity for such ions as Cu2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, Ni2+. The adsorption capacity of o-PhDEP sorbent for these ions was determined. It is suggested that it could be used to remove heavy metals from industrial wastewater. The dependence of the Cu2+ ion sorption process on the pH value of the environment was studied. It has been established that the static exchange capacity of the polymer sorbent has the highest value in the range of pH=3-5. It has been proven that the new sorbent can be purified from heavy metals by desorption in a weakly acidic environment and then reused. Using a scanning electron microscope, an image of the sorbent's surface was obtained. It was found to have a developed porous structure, which contributes to its absorption capacity. The synthesized polymer o-PhDEP was first used to absorb micro and nanoplastics from an aqueous solution and vegetable oil. It has been established that plastic particles are completely adsorbed by the presented polymer. The content of micro and nano plastics in the initial and post-sorption solutions was determined using the Laser Dynamic Light Scattering method. For citation: Kornilov K.N., Roeva N.N., Yakovlyuk R.O. Synthesis and study of a polymer sorbent based on ortho-diaminobenzene and epoxy resin for water and food purification from heavy metals and microplastics. ChemChemTech [Izv. Vyssh. Uchebn. Zaved. Khim. Khim. Tekhnol.]. 2026. V. 69. N 3. P. 75-86. DOI: 10.6060/ivkkt.20266903.6742.