Summary: | In this work, feather keratin was extracted from the waste feather of chicken via alkyd pretreatment and reduction method, the extraction rate is above 85%. The molecular weight and aggregation morphology of feather keratin in an aqueous environment were characterized by 18-angle laser light scattering gel permeation chromatography and field emission transmission electron microscopy. The relationship between the structure and properties of feather keratin is discussed. The 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) -3-ethylcarbondiimide hydrochloride and <i>N</i>-hydroxysuccinimide were used as activation system and cross-linkage. The gallic acid was used as modification reagent and was bonded to feather keratin chains; meanwhile, feather keratin chains were cross-linked through covalent bonds obtained the novel adsorbent (named as GA-FK gel). The GA-FK gel was investigated by IR, SEM, TGA, XRD, and BET methods. The results indicated that GA molecules successfully bonded to feather keratin chains and cross-linked between feather keratin chains. The GA-FK gel was found to have a three-dimensional network structure with abundant mesopores. Its pore size range is 1.8~90 nm; average pore size is 19.6 nm. Its specific surface area is 7.17 m<sup>2</sup>·g<sup>−1</sup>. In addition, GA-FK gel was applied to remove Fe(III) in water. The maximum adsorption capacity was 319.0 mg·g<sup>−1</sup>. The adsorption process of GA-FK gel to Fe(III) presents a typical two-stage pattern accompanied with swelling. The adsorption kinetics of GA-FK gel to Fe(III) follows the quasi-second-order model, the adsorption isotherm follows the Freundlich model. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism is non-specific adsorption.
|