In situ chemical synthesis and characterization of PAN/clay nanocomposite for potential removal of Pb⁺² ions from aqueous media

A green synthesis of polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) was carried out by in situ polymerization for their potential in order to remove the heavy metal from aqueous solution. At first stage, cloisite was functionalized using Vinyl Triethoxy Silane (VTES) to generate radicals on its surface. After functionalization, the monomer was grafted at these functional sites. The grafting was induced by varying initiator ratio (1.0 2.0 and 3. 0wt %). The maximum grafting of 78% was obtained with 2.0%wt initiator. To enhance number of active sorption sites the PNCs were further modified using hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH₂OH.HCl). The characterizations of prepared samples were carried out via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X- Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The adsorption potential of prepared sorbents was checked for lead metal ions via Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The prepared PCNs showed 92% adsorption potential of Pb(II) ion at 5.0 pH with 240 min contact time.