Synthesis, characterization of silver nanoparticle embedded polyaniline tungstophosphate-nanocomposite cation exchanger and its application for heavy metal selective membrane

Utilizing the solution synthesis technique, polyaniline tungstophosphate (WP-PAni) was expediently obtained, which was allowed to react with silver to the formation of silver embedded polyaniline tungstophosphate (WP-PAni/Ag) nanocomposite. The polymerization of aniline into polyaniline was achieved by means of in situ oxidative polymerization of the monomers. The nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, X-ray powder diffraction, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry, SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). On the basis of cation exchange capacity, this nanocomposite cation exchanger was used to develop heavy metal ion selective membrane for lead. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.