Preparation and Adsorption Properties of Starch-g-Polyacrylamide/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

Abstract

By means of solution polymerization, a series of cross-linked starch-g-polyacrylamide/ montmorillonite (St-g-PAM/MMT) nanocomposites were prepared and used to adsorb methylene blue (MB). The effects of different preparation conditions on the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposites were investigated. The experimental results demonstrated that the prepared St-g-PAM/MMT nanocomposites were effective adsorbents for removal of MB from aqueous solution. Furthermore, adsorption capacity increased with the MMT contents up to 14% and decreased as the MMT contents further increased. Adsorption capacity increased with the increasing of the ratio of starch to acrylamide, whereas adsorption capacity decreased with the increasing of crosslinking agent contents.