Abstract:

In this study, ion-imprinted polymers were prepared. These polymers can be used for the selective removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. To this end, (E)-2-hydroxy-5-((vinylphenyl)diazonyl) benzaldehyde was used as a functional monomer in the synthesis stage of the polymeric adsorbent. Cu(II) imprinted poly[Cu(C15H11N2O2)] microspheres have been synthesised by dispersion polymerisation technique through interaction of the template molecule Cu(II) ion with the functional monomer. The specific surface area of Cu(II) imprinted poly[Cu(C15H11N2O2)] microspheres was 374.26 m2/g. The swelling rate was 80%. The maximum adsorption capacity, the optimum pH and the adsorption equilibrium time were determined to be 153.03 mg/g, in the 8-10 range and 30 min, respectively. The relative selectivity coefficients of the imprinted microspheres were found to be 13.09, 57.88, 44.719 and 35.006 for Cu(II)/Ni(II), Cu(II)/Pb(II), Cu(II)/Zn(II) and Cu(II)/Co(II), respectively. These results showed that the Cu(II)-imprinted microspheres were more selective with respect to Cu(II) ions. Reproducibility studies showed that Cu(II) imprinted poly[Cu(C15H11N2O2)] microspheres can be used repeatedly without significant decrease in adsorption capacity.

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