Abstract: Flexible shape-memory polymers were synthesized by Pickering high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) polymerization and used to adsorb and separate tetrodotoxin (TTX) from an aqueous solution. SiO₂ nanoparticles were used to stabilize the Pickering oil-in-water (O/W) HIPEs. We introduced imidazolium-modified bromobutyl rubber (IBR) with excellent mechanical properties and high viscosity into the emulsion system as the shape-memory monomer. The properties, such as shape memory and morphology, were characterized by various methods, and batches of static adsorption experiments were conducted to analyze the adsorption performance of SiO₂@IBR on TTX. The characterization revealed that the SiO₂@IBR had a porous structure and good shape memory. Thus, the combination of SiO₂ particles and IBR prevented shedding of SiO₂ and enhanced the mechanical and adsorption properties of SiO₂@IBR. The results of the adsorption experiments indicated that the SiO₂@IBR had good adsorption of TTX. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich models fitted the isothermal adsorption experiment process. The TTX adsorption capacity of SiO₂@IBR was about 290.44 mg/g at 308 K. The fitting results of the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models showed that the adsorption process involved both chemical bonding and physical adsorption. After 10 adsorption and desorption experiments, the adsorption capacity of SiO₂@IBR decreased less than 0.03%, indicating that it had good adsorption and regeneration performance.

Key words: Tetrodotoxin (TTX); SiO₂; Imidazolium-modified bromobutyl rubber (IBR); Pickering high internal phase emulsion (HIPE); Adsorption

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