Group activity analysis and pollution remediation techniques: Optimization of gel structural properties for efficient...

Designing adsorbent with unique structure and stable configuration is a feasible strategy for effective treatment of Cu(Ⅱ) pollution. Inspired by the structure of water-transporting xylem in plants, polyvinyl alcohol/graphene oxide/sodium alginate (PVA/GO/SA) and polyetherimide/graphene oxide/sodium alginate (PEI/GO/SA) with domain-limited slit-shaped structures and stable three-dimensional configurations are synthesized by introducing PVA and PEI into GO/SA gel system. Based on the different electron transfer mechanisms of PVA and PEI under high polymerization (COHP_PEI-N = 0.04 eV, COHP_PVA-O = -0.05 eV), electron pooling effect of methylene backbone with segment length response is firstly proposed. Formation paths and characteristics of the effect are analyzed, and the truncation effect on the enhancement of electronegativity and reactivity of the characteristic groups are investigated (Q_ave^PEI-N = -0.899, Q_ave^PVA-O = -0.629), thus realizing the optimization of gel structure and performance enhancement, confirmed by comparing the gels' changes in the characteristic structures and Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption properties (Q_m^PEI/GO/SA = 171.11 mg/g, Q_m^PVA/GO/SA = 96.81 mg/g). Our research not only synthesizes new efficient and selective Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption gels, but also can provide new insights and pathways for the structural characterization of linear polymers and the investigation of the structural design, adsorption activity and mechanism of related adsorption gels.