Development of novel acid–base ions exchanger for basic dye removal: phosphoric acid doped pyrazole-g-polyglycidyl methacrylate

Novel acid–base ions exchanger for basic dye removal developed through three subsequent steps. First, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was polymerized to have poly glycidyl methacrylate particles. Second, pyrazole derivative was grafted onto poly glycidyl methacrylate particles to have pyrazole-g-poly glycidyl methacrylate. Finally, orthophosphoric acid was doped onto the pyrazole-g-poly glycidyl methacrylate matrix. Factors affecting the pyrazole derivative grafting process were studied. Structure verification was conducted using FT-IR and thermogravimetric analyses. A fundamental investigation of the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions by orthophosphoric acid-doped pyrazole-g-poly glycidyl methacrylate (OPA-py-g-PGMA) and PGMA particles was conducted under batch conditions. Operational conditions such as initial MB concentration, contact time and temperature, adsorbent dosage, and finally agitation speed have been investigated and correlated to the MB removal percentage and adsorption capacity. OPA-py-g-PGMA particles show higher MB removal percentage and adsorption capacity in comparison with PGMA particles. Maximum adsorption capacities found 11 and 5 mg/g for OPA-py-g-PGMA and PGMA particles, respectively.