Assessment of polypyrrole nanoparticles synthesized in presence and absence of surfactant for heavy metals decontamination

Polypyrrole black powder nanoparticles (PPy NPs) have been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization in the absence and presence of surfactant and tested as an adsorbent for manganese ions sequestration from aqueous solution. PPy NPs were chemically prepared by chemical oxidation using ferric chloride (FeCl3) as an oxidant, distillate water as a solvent, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as surfactants. PPy NPs were found to be mesoporous with surfaces area of approximately 8 m2/g, 22 m2/g, and 32 m2/g, and average pore size 51 nm, 33 nm, and 29 nm for PPy, PPy/PVP, and PPy/PVA respectively. The prepared PPy adsorbents were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) which was used to measure the manganese concentration. The batch adsorption process was conducted by varying agitation time at constant pH. Data from the AAS analysis showed that manganese ions removal from water effluent was almost 78%, 86%, and 95% after 2 hours for PPy, PPy/PVP, and PPy/PVA respectively. The results demonstrated that PPy prepared in the presence of PVA is a super-adsorbent for manganese decontamination from wastewater and can be a potential material in this field.