Removal of Fe³⁺ ions from aqueous solutions using poly(methyl methacrylate)

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer was synthesized using 2-pyrrolidinoacetonaphthone (MPY) as a photoinitiator, and the obtained PMMA was used as an adsorbent of Fe³⁺ ions. Under optimal conditions (0.2 g PMMA, 15 mg/L Fe³⁺, 40 min contact time, 30°C, pH 10, 150 rpm) 99.98% Fe³⁺ ions were removed from natural water samples. The obtained results indicate that UV-synthesized PMMA has the potential not only to remove Fe³⁺ but also other heavy metals and may constitute a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment.