(458b) Thiol-functionalized Hyper-Cross-Linked Milk Protein polymers for Mercury Removal

Hyper-cross-linked organic polymers (HCPs) have recently attracted a lot of attention as their large surface area and strong interactions with other molecules making them highly appropriate for different applications. The production of this type of microporous polymers is usually accomplished by employing pricey reagents. As an inexpensive way of synthesizing HCPs scaffold, we create one step Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction with milk caseins, existing in high quantity and exhibiting unique polymer properties. To optimize the surface area of the polymer, the ratio of the catalyst (AlCl3) to the cross-linker (2,4,6-Trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) was studied. Then, the polymer was decorated with sulfur functional groups to become a suitable platform for mercury separation from the water and gas phases. Our approach together with characterization techniques (FTIR, ICP, XPS, BET) validated that the integration of thiol-groups into HCP leads to remarkable de-mercuration performance. Thiol-functionalized casein polymer scaffold demonstrates excellent capacity and selectivity for trapping heavy metal ions. The high capabilities of developed sustainable adsorbents from waste streams make them comparable to current state-of-the-art nanoporous materials.