ABSTRACT
A polyethylenimine (PEI)-modified blend monolith with porous structure was prepared as an effective adsorbent to remove copper ion (Cu2+) in aqueous media. The polycarbonate (PC) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) blend monolith was selected as matrix, which was fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). PEI, a chelating agent to bind metal ions, was covalently connected onto the surface of the blend monolith by aminolysis reaction. The adsorption capacity of the PEI-modified blend monolith for Cu2+ was evaluated. The adsorption has been examined under various conditions such as solution pH, adsorption time, and Cu2+ concentration. The maximum capacity for Cu2+ is 55 mg/g. The present PEI-modified blend monolith has large potential for wastewater treatment.
