Heavy Metal Decontamination by Ion Exchange Polymers

This research article investigates the use of ion exchange polymers (IEPs) for the removal of heavy metal ions, specifically mercury and lead, from contaminated water. The study focuses on two types of polymers: a cation exchange polymer (CEP) known as sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and an anion exchange polymer (AEP) called poly(sulfone trimethylammonium) chloride (PSU-TMA). The removal efficiency of these polymers was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and gravimetry. The results indicate that SPEEK can achieve 100% removal efficiency for both mercury and lead ions when concentrations are below its maximum sorption capacity. Interestingly, PSU-TMA demonstrated a surprising 100% removal efficiency for mercury, attributed to the formation of stable complex anions. The article also discusses the thermodynamics of lead removal using Langmuir adsorption theory and the kinetics of the sorption process. The findings highlight the potential of IEPs in addressing heavy metal pollution in water.