Water-soluble Polymers for Removing Heavy Metal lons from Aqueous Solution

Poly (methylacrylate) (PMA) prepared by radical (PMA-R) or anionic (PMA-A) polymerization of methylaerylate was allowed to react with polyethylenepolyamine to obtain water soluble polymers. By means of foam treatment using these water soluble polymers, the removal effect of heavy metals was investigated.Polyethylenepolyamines used were ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine and tetraethylenepentamine and the best removal effect was obtained When PMA-EDA reaction product was used. More than 99.9% of cadmium was removed when the reaction product of PMA-A, containing EDA in the ratio of 1: 10 mol in dimethylformamide at 130 C for 7 hours, was used. The most effective result, was obtained in the pH range from 7.0 to 9.0 and the suitable concentration of PMA-EDA reaction product was 160-250 ppm at pH 7. More than 90% of lead, copper or zinc was removed.