Adsorption of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene on carboxylated porous polystyrene microspheres

Abstract Large-pore-size (150 nm) polystyrene (PSt) microspheres were carboxylated with phthalic anhydride (PA) through Friedel–Crafts acetylation to study the adsorption of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) on this material from aqueous solution. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and mercury porosimetry measurements (MPM) of the microspheres showed that the pore structure was unchanged during the reaction. High adsorption capacity (11.2 mg g−1 of suction-dried adsorbent) and adsorption rate (33.9 mg g−1 h−1) for TNT were observed during the study. As shown by the adsorption isotherm, the adsorption of TNT on PA–PSt can be described by the Freundlich adsorption equation, indicating heterogeneous adsorption process. On-column adsorption of TNT on PA–PSt and elution indicated that TNT can be completely removed from aqueous solution and condensed into acetone.