**Author details**

achieve different porous structures in the modified adsorbents. The SEM analysis was applied to identify the porous structure of the adsorbents, and specific area, pore volume and pore radius were determined using a porosimeter. The sodium hydroxide and hydroxylamine were used to modify the adsorbents in order to introduce amidoxime and carboxylic groups into the adsorbent. The ability of the modified adsorbents through Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions was determined, and the highest adsorption with respect to all metal ions was achieved at pH values of 3–4. In addition, a rapid (20 min) metal uptake took place in all cases studied. The order of metal uptake for all types of PAN adsorbents was determined as Cu(II) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) > Pb(II). The EDTA was found to desorb the metal ions from the adsorbents. As a result, it was found that the synthesised adsorbents have good adsorption characteristics and are good candidates for the removal of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Pb (II) ions from aqueous

Amine-containing resins based on PAN were synthesised through chemical modifications of PAN with diethylene triamine (DETA) by Kiani et al. [55]. The modified PAN resins (PAN-DETA50 and PAN-DETA150) were used as adsorbent for the removal of Hg(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Ag(I) and Zn(II) from aqueous solution. The FTIR, SEM and TGA were used to study the surface morphology of the adsorbents. Moreover, the amine content of the resins was determined by titration. The TGA and FTIR spectroscopy study on metal-resin complexes showed the presence of metal ions in PAN-DETA complexes. The SEM micrographs clarified that there are no drastic differences in morphology of resins when compared with unmodified PAN (except PAN-DETA-Zn). The adsorption behaviour of the resins studied for all metal ions confirmed that they have acceptable adsorption capacities. In addition, the adsorption of metal ions was examined under different pH conditions, and it was seen that adsorption was

The rise in industrial, medical, technological and domestic activities has led to huge increases in the levels of heavy metals which have serious impacts on both human health and environment. Therefore, the demand for reducing the effects of potential pollutants has increased throughout the world by improving existing techniques and introducing novel adsorbent materials. The preparation of such materials which can remove toxic heavy metals from aqueous media is still a continuing objective of environmental remediation efforts, particularly where there is a need to enhance the adsorption capacity and metal ion specificity. Recently, researchers have focused on polymeric adsorbents for separation and purification purposes due to their valuable advantages such as relatively easy regeneration, perfect mechanical rigidity, vast surface area, adjustable surface chemistry, simple processing and possibility to shape them into most suitable form (e.g. sheets, beads and membranes). This chapter highlighted the practical applications of acrylic-based polymers for the removal of heavy metals ions in water. In summary, it was clearly seen that there is still a need to develop new adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals to introduce simple, rapid and quantitative methods

solution.

190 Acrylic Polymers in Healthcare

increased with increasing pH values [55].

that can be applied in environmental remediation studies.

**3. Conclusions**

Aslı Erdem Yayayürük

Address all correspondence to: aslierdem30@hotmail.com

Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
