Modified resorcinol formaldehyde xerogel as a mercury(II) adsorbent

A new adsorbent, resorcinol formaldehyde xerogel modified with mercapto (-SH) functional group, was synthesized by sol–gel method. The adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The adsorption behavior of Hg(II) ions in aqueous solutions on modified resorcinol formaldehyde xerogel was investigated as a function of adsorbent dose. It was found that the modified RF xerogel had much higher adsorption capacity and removal efficiency than unmodified RF xerogel due to the functional groups. The new adsorbent would be quite useful in developing an efficient adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated industrial effluents

Keywords:

Resorcinol formaldehyde xerogel , mercapto functional group , sol–gel method , adsorption , Hg(II)