Structure characterization and adsorption properties of tetraethylenepentamine ion exchange fiber

A novel tetraethylenepentamine ion exchange fiber (TAIEF) was prepared using polypropylene grafted styrene (PP-g-ST) fiber as raw material. The chemical structure of TAIEF was characterized using infrared spectrum (IR) method. TAIEF had good appearance and shape after reaction in SEM images, the TGA curves revealed that both PP-g-ST fiber and acetyl PP-g-ST fiber had good thermal stability below 250 °C, and the weight loss rate of TAIEF is 9% from 50 °C to 200 °C obtained by TGA. TAIEF adsorption capacity to Fe(III) is larger than that of In(III) in the pH value 1.00 to 3.00, while the pH value is at 2.50 to 3.00, TAIEF adsorption capacity to Fe(II) and Zn(II) are smaller than that of In(III). The selective adsorption ability to Fe(III) is higher than In(III), and the selective absorptivity to In(III) is better than Fe(II) and Zn(II). The mechanism was explained of TAIEF favorable selective adsorption to In(III) and Fe(III) ions in mixed solutions.