Preparation of gel resins and removal of copper and lead from water

A series of gel resins were prepared by polymerizing glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and functionalizing with ammonia (NH3) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). The aminated gel resins were then used as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions (Cu2+ and Pb2+). These gel resins containing amino groups and chelating amino groups had excellent adsorptive properties for Cu2+ and Pb2+. The adsorption process reached equilibrium in 40 min, and the adsorption capacities of Cu2+ and Pb2+ were 75.0 mg g−1 and 266.6 mg g−1 for the NH3-aminated gel resins and 57.5 mg g−1 and 330.6 mg g−1 for the TEPA-aminated gel resins, respectively. After five adsorption–desorption processes, the adsorption capacities only decreased slightly. Thus, these aminated gel resins can be used as effective adsorbents for aqueous heavy metal ions (Cu2+ and Pb2+). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44466.