Preparation and Cu(II) Complexation Characteristics of Carboxymethylated Polyethyleneimine (CM-PEI) / Microporous Activated Carbon Composite

We present the preparation and Cu(II) adsorption characteristics of a new and innovative composite which was composed of a carboxymethylated polyethyleneimine (CM-PEI) and an activated carbon with a nanopore less than 2 nm in diameter. In this study, we examined the adsorption phenomena of Cu(II) on the CM-PEI/F400 composite and evaluated the adsorption data using three kinds of isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms). It was found that the adsorption of Cu(II) on the CM-PEI/F400 composite obeys the Langmuir isotherm model. Furthermore, The Cu element mapping results showed that Cu was well distributed throughout all the surface of the composite particle, suggesting that the surface of the F400 particle was uniformly covered with CM-PEI.