ABSTRACT
4A novel comparative account for the ion-exchange and copolymer/ activated charcoal composite was performed. The copolymer resin was synthesized involving p-hydroxybenzoic acid and semicarbazide with formaldehyde and the novel composite was prepared using copolymer and activated charcoal. The structure and properties of copolymer and copolymer/activated charcoal composite were observed by various characterizations such as elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR ( 13 C and Ή), and SEM. The heavy metal ion removal by the copolymer and the composite was performed by batch separation technique for the selected divalent metal ions like Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II). The study was extended to various concentrations in different electrolyte, wide pH ranges, and at different rate. The selectivity of the order of removal of metal ion by the copolymer is Zn(II) > Cu(II) > Co(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II) and by the composite is Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II). The difference in the selectivity of order of metal ions may be due to the particle size, high porosity nature, large surface area, nature of the material, and the metal ions. Moreover, the ion-exchange results of the copolymer and its composite were compared with the commercially available resin.
