Effect of Magnesium Ions on the Adsorption of Poly(acrylic acid) onto Alumina

The adsorption isotherms of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) onto alumina powder have been determined as a function of pH, ionic strength, and magnesium‐ion concentration. The adsorption of PAA is strongly enhanced by magnesium ions in alkaline media but less affected under acidic conditions. The adsorption isotherms display a maximum when PAA is fully complexed with magnesium ions in the solution, corresponding to a ratio of 0.25 ± 0.05 [Mg 2+ ]/[acrylic acid monomer]. The decrease in adsorbed amount with an increase in PAA concentration at constant magnesium‐ion concentration is related to a decrease in the complexation ratio.