The Synthesis of Porous Aminated Starch for the Adsorption of Phenol

Starch, an affordable and biodegradable polymer, is commonly used for adsorbing chemical hazards like phenol. To enhance phenol adsorption, a porous aminated starch was developed through enzymatic and chemical modification. By optimizing enzymatic reaction time and temperature, the porous starch was successfully fabricated without granule collapse, resulting in a surface area increase from 0.33 m2/g to 0.81 m2/g. Amino groups were then added to the porous starch via amination, boosting phenol adsorption capability from 0.0165 g/g in native starch to 0.0198 g/g in porous aminated starch, marking over 20% improvement. Additionally, the porous aminated starch exhibited a considerably faster adsorption rate than native starch. The porous structure provided more active sites for phenol adsorption, while the additional amino group enhanced interaction with phenol through hydrogen bonding, leading to higher phenol adsorption capability and faster rate