Preparation of composite material of polymeric resin mixed with inorganic ion exchanger and their use for the treatment of petrochemical pollutant

Petrochemicals are very important for human life as a source of energy and synthesis of essential organic compounds which are useful in various fields. Their compounds are fatal toxins and their presence in water streams affects the organisms in the aquatic environment. In this study, sorption technique was preferred used to achieve the optimum recovery of the studied petrochemical solutions from aqueous solutions because of its simplicity and low economic cost. Composite materials formed by the combination of zirconia/ alumina ZrO2/Al2O3 and poly (acrylic acid- acrylonitrile) as organic polymers have been synthesized to achieve this process. A composite material was using prepared with various relative concentration ratio of the organic to inorganic materials to control the adsorption capability of the organic polymer. The composite materials poly(acrylic- acrylonitrile)/ ZrO2/Al2O3 was characterized using Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR), simultaneous thermogravimetry (TGA), surface area and particle size distribution analyzer. The removal capabilities of the prepared composite materials were investigated. Different factors affecting the uptake such as shaking time, ph value and aqueous volume to resin weight ratio have been investigated. The reaction mechanisms and the optimum conditions for the treatment were deduced in the light of the obtained results.