Direct surface modification of nanodiamonds with ionic copolymers for fast adsorptive removal of copper ions with high efficiency

In this study, we developed a rapid microwave-assisted Diels-Alder reaction to prepare hydroxylated ND; then the ionic copolymers functionalized ND composites were obtained through direct surface-initiated Ce(IV)/HNO 3 redox polymerization by utilization of the hydroxyl groups and the resultant ND based composites were utilized for adsorptive removal of copper ions. The results demonstrated the Pseudo-second-order model can well describe the adsorption kinetic of ND-poly(AA -co- MPC) and it has been confirmed that the adsorption behavior is initiative and endothermic and related thermodynamic parameters (△G, △H, △S). The Langmuir isotherm model is better to describe the adsorption isotherms and the temperature experiment results show the best pH environment is pH 7–9. The results above demonstrated the ND-poly(AA -co- MPC) prepared by Ce(IV)/HNO 3 redox polymerization shows great potential in environmental treatment and remediation and the easy, mild, hydrous polymerization strategy can be exampled in the field of material surface modification.