Efficient selective uptake of mercury ions using inverse vulcanization-synthesized sulfur-rich adsorbents

Mercury abatement from complex environmental sources remains a significant challenge for environmental protection due to the lack of cost-effective sorbents. Sulfur-based adsorbents have been traditionally used for selective uptake of Hg(II) ions, necessitating the creation of effective sulfur adsorption sites. Herein, we propose a sulfur-rich material synthesized method via inverse vulcanization for mercury removal from solutions. Mercury exhibits an affinity for sulfur, and highly active sulfur sites enhance its adsorption efficiency. Inert elemental sulfur can be activated by aliphatic diamine through a ring-opening process, converting sulfur and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into functional sulfur-rich materials at a mild temperature of 50 °C. The cross-linked structure of PVC enhances the dispersion of active sulfur sites. This sulfur and nitrogen-containing material demonstrates excellent mercury removal capabilities, exhibiting high selectivity even in complex ionic environments, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 309.2 mg/g. Our results highlight the efficiency of this sulfur-rich material as a mercury sorbent. The inverse vulcanization method enables the efficient utilization of two abundant resources, sulfur and waste PVC. This research has been submitted for publication in a scientific journal, and we have provided a concise and polished version for your consideration.