POLYAMINES - SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS IN WATER PURIFICATION

Abstract

Polyamines constitute a major class of polymers that attract numerous applications because of their unique properties as nucleophiles, bases, adsorbents, ligands, pH-, stimuli-, temperature sensitive and bio-active materials. In this work, a series of amphiphilic block and random amine copolymers were synthesized with RAFT, ATRP and dispersion polymerization methods. They were employed as adsorbents for the removal of metal nanoparticles, heavy metal ions and organic dyes from water and shown to have good adsorption efficiencies. The extractions were proportional to amine content on polymer surface. Extraction kinetics and isotherms were studied to explain the underlying adsorption mechanisms. These studies will be useful in designing novel synthetic adsorbents for water purification. In addition, studies on polyurea thin films were performed by synthesizing polymers by interfacial polycondensation method. The effect of amine type and concentration on thickness and structural morphologies were studied and potential applications as transport membrane and reductants for metal nanoparticles were explored.