Photonic crystals in biology

Poster Session, Tuesday, June 15
Theme A1 - B702
Equilibrium and kinetic study on boron uptake by Monodisperse-Nanoporous Poly(GMA-co-EDM)
Particles Containing N-Methyl-D-Glucamine
1 Saba Samatya, 2 Nalan Kabay, 1 Ali Tuncel*
1 Hacettepe University, Chemical Engineering Department, Ankara, Turkey
2 Ege University, Chemical Engineering Department, Izmir, Turkey
Abstract— A relatively new method of polymerization, ‘modified seeded polymerization’ has been used for the synthesis of
monodisperse nanoporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-ethylene dimethacrylate) particles are proposed for boron removal. The
covalent attachment of boron selective ligand N-methyl-D-glucamine onto poly(GMA-co-EDM) particles were followed for
the synthesis of sorbents.
Boron is a naturally occurring element that is widely
distributed at low concentrations in the environment. Boron is
rare, being found in dry regions of the world such as Turkey,
which has the largest boron reserves in the world. Although
boron is essential for plant life and small amounts of boron are
even claimed to be beneficial for human, high levels may be
toxic [1]. There are several physicochemical treatment
processes typically used to remove boron from water and
wastewater. These are adsorption with inorganic adsorbents,
ion exchange, solvent extraction, membran processes and
ultrafiltration [2]. Basically, the only method utilized to
separate boron from liquid media has been the use of ion
exchange resins. The chemistry of boron indicates that
molecules with vic-diols are capable of forming neutral boron
esters or tetra alkyl borate type of compounds, even in
aqueous solutions. Design of new boron-specific sorbents is
based mostly on this key principle [3].
Our interest has been much focused on the development of
monodisperse-porous Poly(GMA-co-EDM) Particles.
Monodisperse polymer particles, of which size is in the order
of micrometers, have been of great interests in many
applications, including standard calibrations, biomedical
examinations, chromatographic fillers, spacers, ink additives,
and catalytic substrates [4]. Uniform, macroporous particles
have usually been obtained with seeded polymerization
techniques. In fact, many recent advances in the synthesis of
monodisperse polymer particles are strongly based on the
seeded polymerization technique [5].
A representative SEM photo (Figure 1) shows the surface
morphology of poly(GMA-co-EDM) particles. Based on SEM
evaluation, the average size of poly (GMA-co-EDM) particles
were 9.0 μm. The SEM photo indicates that poly(GMA-co-
EDM) particles have a highly porous-surface predominantly
including macropores. NMDG was covalently attached to the
particles (Figure 2).
Figure 1. A representative SEM photo of poly(GMA-co-EDM) particles
Figure 2: Schematic illustration of the functionalization of poly(GMA-co-
EDM) with NMDG
Figure 3. Equilibrium isotherm on uptake of boron from aqueous solution
As seen in Fig.3, the maximum uptake value (Q o ) of 12 mg
boron per g-dry resin
Figure 4. Removal of boron by versus time by poly(GMA-co-EDM)NMDG
resin
Figures 4 indicates uptake of versus time. The removal of
boron increased with time and reached the equilibrium in 10
min with a 98.8 % boron removal. The sorbent has been
shown to be efficient in chelation with boric acid and can be
used for removal of boric acid at ppm levels.
BOREN (Project Number: 2008-G-0192). We are grateful to
TUBITAK for post doc fellowship for S.Samatya. We also
thank to Prof. A.Ozdural, Hacettepe University for allowing to
use ICP equipment for boron analysis.
*Corresponding author: Ali Tuncel atuncel@hacettepe.edu.tr
[1] J.Q. Jiang, Y. Xu, J. Simon, K. Quill and K. Shettle, Water Sci. Technol.
53 73 (2006).
[2] N. Kabay, I. Yilmaz, S. Yamac, S. Samatya, M. Yuksel, U. Yuksel, M.
Arda, M. Saglam, T. Iwanaga and K. Hirowatari, React. Funct. Polym., 60
163(2004).
[3] B. F.Senkal, N. Bicak, Polymer supported iminodipropylene glycol
functions for removal of boron, React. Funct. Polym, 55: 1, 27-33 (2003).
[4] S.I. Kim, T. Yamamoto, A. Endo, T. Ohmori, M. Nakaiwa, J. Ind. Eng.
Chem. 127 69(2006).
[5] Unsal E, Çamlı ST, Tuncel M, Şenel S, Tuncel A, React Func Polym, 61
(2004) 353.
6th Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Conference, zmir, 2010 325