Development of ion-imprinted cryogels for selective removal of arsenic from environmental waters

Arsenic present by nature as metalloid, having transportability in the environment via diverse sources. Because of both natural processes and anthropogenic activities, arsenic is found in environmental water sources. The aim of this study is to design ion-imprinting-based cryogel adsorbents for the removal of arsenic species from environmental waters. Since trivalent arsenic exhibit a high afgfinity for sulfhydryl groups, cysteine-based functional monomer, i.e. MAC, was synthesized and MAC–As(III) complex was prepared. Ionimprinted polymeric adsorbents were fabricated via cryopolymerization. Elemental analysis studies have shown that the cryogel monolith contains 192.8 μmol/g mol MAC/g polymer. The maximum adsorption capacity of ion-imprinted cryogels at an initial arsenic concentration of 10 ppm was found to be 372.5 μg/g at pH 8.0. Arsenic removal rate of the imprinted cryogels from environmental water sample was determined as 94.8% In the studies carried out for the removal of arsenic from the environmental waters, 94.8% removal efficiency was achieved. Reusability assays of ion-imprinted cryogels were performed and there was no significant decrease in adsorption capacity.