Separation Science and Technology, Vol.46, No.7, 1113-1120, 2011
A Convenient Approach Toward Fluoride Sorption by Calix[4]arene Based Sorbent
The present study describes the sorption of fluoride on a potential and newly synthesized p-tetraaminocalix[4]arene based resin (p-TAC4 resin). The p-TAC4 resin was synthesized via immobilization of p-tetranitrocalix[4]arene (p-TNC4) onto the Merrifield resin followed by catalytic reduction with SnCl2/EtOH/HCl. The p-TNC4 and p-TAC4 resins were characterized using FT-IR, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluoride removal capability from the aqueous media of the p-TAC4 resin has been evaluated through batch sorption study. The effect of pH, sorbate concentration, sorbent dosage, and contact time on fluoride removal was evaluated. The Langmuir (L), Freundlich (F), and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms revealed that the fluoride on p-TAC4 resin follows physiosorption mechanism. All the results support and emphasize that the p-TAC4 resin is an effective sorbent for the removal of fluoride from the aqueous environment at a wide range of pH. The study may confer its impact on human health, reinstate polluted sites and other fields such as analytical, clinical, as well as material sciences.
Keywords:calix[4]arene;fluoride remediation;merrifield resin;solid-phase extraction;sorption isotherm