Ammonium is a pollutant that enters the environment from increasing ammonia production and subsequent emissions released as ammonia gas, which can contaminate waterways and soil as NH4+ ions. In this study, a facile synthesis procedure was suggested for preparing high-performance ammonium adsorbent. Prussian blue analogue, viz. copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF), was immobilized in situ on a weakly acidic cation exchange resin (WAC) without any pretreatment to prepare the composite material WAC-CuHCF to assess its selective adsorption of NH4+ from aqueous solution. CuHCF appears to be located on the surface of WAC, allowing access to NH4+ for adsorption. The reaction kinetics of NH4+ adsorption on WAC-CuHCF was consistent with the pseudo second-order model, and the adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model. WAC-CuHCF exhibited successful adsorption ability over a wide pH range, with maximum adsorption observed at pH 8. The adsorption efficiency of NH4+ changed only slightly in the presence of Na+ and decreased by only ~10% in the presence of K+. The ability of WAC-CuHCF to regenerate was also assessed in the column test, and the regenerated adsorbent was found to adsorb and desorb NH4+ to essentially the same extent. Thus, WAC-CuHCF developed in this study, which could be prepared in a facile synthesis method, is promising as a regenerative adsorbent material for the selective adsorption of NH4+ ions over a wide pH range and can be applied for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Copper-substituted prussian blue analogue immobilized ion exchange resin for high-performance adsorption and desorption of aqueous ammonium

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.