Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Grafted Poly [(N, N-Dimethylacrylamide)-co-(Allyl Acetoacetate)] for Removal of Pb (II) in Environmental and Biological Samples

In this work, a novel nanoadsorbent is reported for the surface grafting of poly[(N, N- dimethylacrylamide)-co-(allyl acetoacetate)] onto zinc oxide nanoparticles by free radical polymerization method for removal of Pb(II) in water and biological samples. The obtained nanoadsorbent was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 2–100 mg L−1 with a removal efficiency in the range of 70–98%. Under the optimal conditions, the nanoadsorbent offered high adsorption capacity (56.20 mg g−1), low limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 11 ng mL−1 and the limit of quantification (S/N = 10) of 37 ng mL−1 with a relative standard deviation of <2% (n = 3). The results indicate that the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model are the best models that describe the sorption system.