Development of nano-crosslinked polyacrylonitrile ions exchanger particles for dyes removal

Poly(acrylonitrile-co-divinylbenzene) nanoparticles, approximately 41 nm mean size, were prepared by precipitation polymerization technique in water:ethanol phase. Influence of the various polymerization parameters (e.g. temperature and time of polymerization, concentration of monomers and initiator, monomers composition, and cosolvent ratio) on the properties (e.g. size and conversion yield) of the particles have been investigated. Poly(acrylonitrile-co-divinylbenzene) nanoparticles were functionalized with amidoxime groups through chemical modification using hydroxyl amine to acquire ions exchanger characters. As a result, the particle size of the copolymer was increased from 41 up to 46 nm. The verification of the hydroximation process was obtained from thermogravimetric and infrared spectrometer analyses. The influence of various parameters, such as the concentration of hydroxyle amine, the temperature and the time of amidooximation, and the monomers composition, on the ion exchange capacity has been investigated and correlated finally to the efficiency of methylene blue removal process.