polymerization

Incorrect. High molecular weight is a key property of polymers used in environmental treatment, as it allows them to form strong, cohesive structures.

Incorrect. A porous structure provides a large surface area for adsorption of contaminants, making polymers effective for removing pollutants.

Correct. Polymers used in environmental treatment are often designed to be soluble in water, allowing them to interact with pollutants and facilitate their removal.

Incorrect. Reactive functional groups allow polymers to interact with specific pollutants, making them effective for targeted removal.

Incorrect. Polymers are widely used for coagulation and flocculation in water treatment, causing particles to clump together and settle.

Incorrect. Polymers can act as effective adsorbents, trapping pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides from water and soil.

Incorrect. Polymer membranes are essential for various filtration processes, separating pollutants from water based on size and chemical properties.

Correct. While polymers play a role in bioaugmentation, bioremediation specifically focuses on using microorganisms to break down pollutants, not directly involving polymerization.

Incorrect. While chitosan is a valuable natural polymer in water treatment, polyacrylamide is more widely used for flocculation and coagulation.

Incorrect. PVA is primarily used for membrane filtration, particularly in desalination processes.

Correct. Polyacrylamide is a commonly used polymer for flocculation and coagulation in water treatment.

Incorrect. Activated Carbon is a porous carbon material created by polymerization, but it acts as an adsorbent, not a flocculant or coagulant.

Incorrect. Research and development in polymer-based treatment is actively ongoing, aiming to address current challenges and expand applications.

Incorrect. The cost-effectiveness of polymer-based treatments can be a challenge, limiting wider adoption.

Incorrect. Regulations regarding the use and disposal of polymers in environmental treatment are usually in place to ensure safety and responsible practices.

Incorrect. While some polymer production relies on specific raw materials, their availability is generally not a major challenge compared to cost, sustainability, and selectivity.

Incorrect. Lower molecular weight polymers are less effective in forming strong structures for binding pollutants and facilitating removal.

Correct. Research focuses on developing polymers with increased selectivity for target pollutants, minimizing the removal of beneficial components from the environment.

Incorrect. The potential of polymerization in environmental treatment is immense, and research aims to expand its applications and improve its effectiveness.

Incorrect. Research focuses on developing biodegradable polymers to address sustainability concerns associated with polymer disposal.

**Solution:**

A suitable polymer for removing heavy metals from water is chitosan.

Explanation:

• Chitosan is a natural polymer derived from chitin, a biodegradable and renewable material.
• It has a high affinity for heavy metals, due to the presence of amino groups in its structure, which can bind to metal ions.
• Chitosan is effective at removing heavy metals even at low concentrations.

Application:

• Chitosan can be added to the water as a powder, flakes, or beads.
• It will bind to the heavy metal ions, forming insoluble complexes that can be removed through filtration or sedimentation.
• The concentration of chitosan used should be optimized to achieve the desired removal efficiency.

Advantages:

• Chitosan is a natural and biodegradable material, reducing environmental impact.
• It is effective at removing heavy metals, improving water quality.
• Chitosan is relatively inexpensive and readily available.

Disadvantages:

• Chitosan can also remove other ions, such as calcium and magnesium, potentially affecting the water's hardness.
• The effectiveness of chitosan can be influenced by factors like pH and temperature.