Preparation of new types of anion exchange resins from agricultural by-products and their utilization in the removal of various toxic anions from solutions

Abstract Several new types of anion exchange resins were prepared from wheat straw (WS) and their applications in the removal of various toxic anions (PO 4 -P, NO 3 -N, Cr (VI) and organic anionic dye) were investigated intensively. The preparation method and their synthesis costs are presented. The required binding sites (amine groups) have been grafted onto the agricultural products and tested. Results show that the synthesis costs (0.45–1.9 US$/kg) for these exchange resins can be regulated according to practical utilizations and their physicochemical properties will be beneficial to the exchange capacities for various anions. The initial total capacities for the PO 4 -P, NO 3 -N, Cr(VI) and organic anionic dye are in the ranges of 16.5–52.4 mg/g, 27.5–89.8 mg/g, 119.7–405.7 mg/g and 311.0–805.0 mg/g, respectively, which can be in competition with some commercially available exchange resins.