Nano-Mg(OH)2 platelets coated flexible polyurethane foam for fast and environment-friendly removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solution

Ying Pana, Ke Kea, Lin Chengb & Hongting Zhao*aa Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, PR Chinab New Power Engineering Company, PowerChina Fujian Enginerring Co., Ltd, Fuzhou, PR ChinaDr Ying Pan is currently working as a lecturer in Hangzhou Dianzi University. Her present research is on Layer-by-Layer self-assembled coating for functionalization of polymers matrix.CONTACT Hongting Zhao info-iem@hdu.edu.cn Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, 310018 Hangzhou, PR China.Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/lpte.ABSTRACTIn this study, flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) was successfully coated with nano-Mg(OH)2 platelets. Due to the strong interaction between chitosan and nano-Mg(OH)2, it was possible to yield modified foam with a weight-gain of up to 15 wt% by depositing one chitosan layer and one nano-Mg(OH)2 layer. Meanwhile, the adsorption isotherms of Cu2+ on FPUF covered with 10 wt% coating (FPUF-10) shows the Langmuir behavior. It was found that for the FPUF-10, the removal % for Cu2+ after 30 min and 50 min treatment were 86% and 90%, respectively. Moreover, the maximum removal % could reach up to 95%.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT