Polymer-grafted magnetic microspheres for enhanced removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions

Abstract

Novel polymer-grafted magnetic microspheres (GMMs) were prepared by graft polymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylic acid (AA) onto the surface of chitosan/magnetite composite microspheres (MMs). The magnetic microspheres were fully characterized and then applied to the adsorption of a cationic dye (methylene blue, MB) from aqueous solutions. Results show that the adsorption capacity of GMMs was notably enhanced compared with MMs. Furthermore, the effects of initial solution pH, contact time and initial concentration on MB adsorption by GMMs were systematically investigated. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms are well described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model respectively, suggesting the adsorption is a homogeneous monolayer adsorption. The maximum MB adsorption capacity by GMMs is found to be 925.9 mg g⁻¹ at 298.15 K and initial solution pH 9.0, as determined from the Langmuir isotherm. The MB-loaded GMMs can be rapidly separated and effectively regenerated at pH 2.0.