New insights into nanocomposite adsorbents for water treatment: A case study of polystyrene-supported zirconium phosphate nanoparticles for lead removal

By encapsulating zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles into three macroporous polystyrene resins with various surface groups, i.e., −CH2Cl, −SO3−, and −CH2N+(CH3)3 three nanocomposite adsorbents (denoted as ZrP–Cl, ZrP–S, and ZrP–N) were fabricated, respectively for lead removal from water. Effect of the functional groups on nano-ZrP dispersion and effect of ZrP immobilization on the mechanical strength of the resulting nanocomposites were investigated. The presence of the charged functional groups (−SO3− and −CH2N+(CH3)3) are more favorable than the neutral −CH2Cl group to improve nano-ZrP dispersion (i.e., to achieve smaller ZrP nanoparticles). ZrP–N and ZrP–S had higher capacity than ZrP–Cl for lead removal. As compared to ZrP–N, ZrP–S exhibits higher preference toward lead ion at high calcium levels as a result of the potential Donnan membrane effect. On the other hand, nano-ZrP immobilization would simultaneously reinforce both the compressive strength and the wear performance of the resulting nanocomposites with the ZrP loadings up to 5 wt%. The results reported herein would shed some light on the generation of environmental nanocomposites with high capacity and excellent mechanical strength.