Preparation of Composites Doped with Conducting Polymer, Characterization and Using Them in Adsorption of Some Radioactive Ions

In this study, the polythiophene (PT) and poly(4-sytrenesulphonic acid)/cis-1,4-polyisoprene/polythiophene (PSS/PI/PT) novel ternary composites at different mass percentages were synthesized by the chemical polymerization method. Iron (III) chloride was used as an oxidant in PT synthesis and monomer/oxidant mole ratio was taken as 1 : 4. The resulting PT and ternary composites were characterized by using various techniques. The conductivity of PT and the ternary composites were measured at room temperature and different temperatures by four probe technique. The conductivity of PT was measured as 4.2 × 10^–4 S/cm at room temperature. Formation of PT and the PSS/PI/PT ternary composites were supported by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometer) bands. It was determined that PT and the composites were polaron from Gouy scale measurements. The surface morphology of the synthesized PT and PSS/PI/PT ternary composites was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy, and it was observed that the porous and spongy structure was dominant in general. Thermal properties of PT and ternary composites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Adsorption parameters such as pH, temperature, time and amount of adsorbent were determined and optimized for the synthesized composites. Under the determined adsorption conditions, adsorption capacities of the ternary composites were determined for Sr-90 and Pb-210 radioisotopes. The highest adsorption percentage of composite containing 19% PT was 51.11% for Sr-90 and the highest adsorption percentage of composite containing 28% PT was 30.19% for Pb-210.