Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers synthesis, characterization and adsorptive removal of nickel ions from aqueous solution

Nickel is a toxic metal and present in the effluents of electroplating industries. Conventional methods to remove nickel are expensive and ineffective. Heavy metals can be easily adsorbed by dendrimers. Dendrimers are radially symmetric, nano-sized molecules with homogeneous, mono-dispersed and well-defined structures consisting of the tree-like branches, characterized by terminal poly functionality. The present study was focused on the synthesis of PAMAM dendrimers by divergent method and their use for the removal of nickel from aqueous solution. Characterization of synthesized dendrimers were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy and zeta sizer analysis. Different parameters such as contact time, concentration of dendrimers, pH and metal concentration have been optimized. Therefore, equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics were determined. Estimation of extent of metal removal was carried out by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Results have revealed that PAMAM dendrimers could possibly be used for the removal of nickel from industrial effluents.