Sains Malaysiana 55(10)(2026): 1703-1713

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5510-09

 

Adsorption of Chromium, Copper and Arsenic (CCA) from Wood Treatment Wastewater using Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MMIPs)

(Penjerapan Kromium, Kuprum dan Arsenik (CCA) daripada Air Sisa Rawatan Kayu menggunakan Polimer Tercetak Molekul Bermagnet (MMIPs))

 

NUR SYAFIQAH SYAHIRAH MUHAMMAD SHAHRIN TONY¹, NOORASHIKIN MD SALEH^1,*, TANUSHA DEVI ELAN SOLAN¹, MUHAMMAD ZULHAZIMAN MAT SALLEH¹ & Mohd AMIRUL MUKMIN abdullah²

 

¹Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Forest Products Division, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109, Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 10 Julai 2025/Diterima: 28 September 2026

 

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: noorashikin@ukm.edu.my

 

Abstract

The wood treatment industry generates wastewater containing toxic metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and arsenic (As), posing risks to the environment and human health. Conventional treatment methods like chemical precipitation and ion exchange face limitations in selectivity, cost, and secondary waste production. Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MMIPs) have emerged as an innovative approach in water treatment technology. MMIPs combines the specificity of molecular binding from molecular imprinting (MIP) technology with the ease of separation using magnetic fields, making it suitable for industrial wastewater treatment applications. Although MMIPs have been studied in various applications, the use of these materials in the simultaneous removal of Cr, Cu, and As from wood treatment wastewater is still underexplored. This study focuses on the development of a modified MMIPs designed with specific binding sites for the simultaneous removal of Cr, Cu, and As from wood treatment wastewater. MMIPs was synthesised by modifying Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles with methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) via a chemical co-precipitation method, and characterised using FTIR analysis. Operational parameters including solution pH (3-10); adsorbent dosage (0.05-0.20 g); contact time (5-20 min); and elution solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone) were optimised. FTIR analysis shows peaks formed around 2900 cm⁻¹ and ~1630 cm⁻¹ in indicates the successful synthesis of MMIPs. FTIR confirmed functional groups such as –COOH and –OH involved in metal binding. The FESEM analysis shows the presence of spherical, porous structures with small granules while the pore diameter is 13.7 nm while the surface area is 50.4 m²/g from the BET analysis further indicated that the MMIPs were successfully synthesised. The results showed that MMIPs removed over 90% of Cr, Cu, and As at optimum conditions which are pH 8, 0.20 g dosage, and 20-min contact time, with methanol being the most effective eluent. The LOD obtained was 0.63, 0.85, and 0.69, respectively for Cr, Cu, and As. The LOQs obtained were 1.65, 1.86, and 2.58, respectively, for Cr, Cu and As. The study demonstrates MMIP’s potential as a selective, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for industrial wastewater treatment.

Keywords: Arsenic (As); chromium(Cr); copper (Cu); magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIPs); wastewater treatment; wood treatment industry

 

Abstrak

Industri rawatan kayu menggunakan bahan pengawet seperti kromium (Cr), kuprum (Cu) dan arsenik (As) yang menghasilkan air sisa toksik yang berisiko kepada alam sekitar dan kesihatan manusia. Kaedah rawatan konvensional seperti pemendakan kimia dan pertukaran ion mempunyai kekangan dari segi selektiviti, kos dan penghasilan sisa sekunder. Kajian ini membangunkan Polimer Tercetak Molekul Magnetik (MMIPs) dengan tapak pengikatan khusus untuk penyingkiran serentak Cr, Cu dan As daripada air sisa industri. MMIPs disintesis melalui pemendakan kimia menggunakan nanozarah magnetik (Fe₃O₄) yang diubah suai dengan asid metakrilik (MAA) dan etilena glikol dimetakrilat (EGDMA) dan dicirikan menggunakan analisis FTIR. Parameter seperti pH (3-10), dos penjerap (0.05-0.20 g), masa sentuhan (5-20 minit) dan jenis pelarut elusi diuji bagi mengenal pasti keadaan optimum. Analisis FTIR menunjukkan puncak yang terbentuk sekitar 2900 cm⁻¹ dan ~1630 cm⁻¹ yang menandakan keberhasilan sintesis MMIPs. Analisis FESEM menunjukkan kewujudan struktur sfera yang berliang dengan butiran halus, manakala diameter liang berukuran 13.7 nm dan luas permukaan sebanyak 50.4 m²/g berdasarkan analisis BET turut mengesahkan bahawa MMIPs telah berjaya disintesis. Hasil kajian menunjukkan MMIPs mampu menyingkirkan lebih daripada 90% logam pada keadaan yang optimum iaitu pada pH 8, dos 0.20 g dan masa sentuhan 20 minit dengan metanol sebagai pelarut elusi paling berkesan. LOD yang diperoleh ialah 0.63, 0.85 dan 0.69 masing-masing bagi Cr, Cu dan As. LOQ yang diperoleh pula ialah 1.65, 1.86 dan 2.58 masing-masing bagi Cr, Cu dan As. Kajian ini membuktikan potensi MMIPs sebagai teknologi rawatan air sisa yang selektif, boleh diguna semula dan mesra alam, selari dengan keperluan piawaian antarabangsa dan dasar kelestarian alam sekitar.

Kata kunci: Arsenik (As); industri rawatan kayu; kromium (Cr); kuprum (Cu); polimer tercetak molekul magnetik (MMIPs); rawatan air sisa

 

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