Removal of Mercuric Ion from Aqueous Solutions Using Sawdust Coated by Polyaniline

Abstract

This paper deals with a new application of polyaniline synthesized chemically, coated on sawdust via cast method in the form of emeraldine base (EB) from formic acid as solvent, and used as an effective adsorbent for removal of mercuric ion or other heavy metals from aqueous solution. Among the different parameters investigated, the effect of pH was found to be the most prominent. It was found that metal uptake is occurred under neutral or slightly alkaline conditions, while under relatively strong acidic media, the sorption of the investigated metal ions was negligible and desorption is a predominant process.