Metal sorption on macroporous poly(GMA-co-EGDMA) modified with ethylene diamine

Abstract Two samples of macroporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), poly(GMA-co-EGDMA), with different porosity parameters were synthesized by suspension copolymerization and modified by ring-opening reaction of the pendant epoxy groups with ethylene diamine (EDA). The samples were characterized by mercury porosimetry, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The sorption rate of the modified copolymer, poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en for Cu(II) ions determined under non-competitive conditions was relatively rapid, i.e. the maximum capacity was reached within 30 min. Batch sorption capacities for Cu(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Pt(IV) ions were determined under non-competitive conditions in the pH range 1.25–5.5 at room temperature. The maximum sorption capacities of poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en under non-competitive conditions were 1.30 mmol/g for Pt(IV) at pH 5.5, 1.10 mmol/g for Cu(II) at pH 5.5, 1.06 mmol/g for Pb(II) at pH 1.25 and 0.67 mmol/g for Cd(II) ions at pH 5.5. The selectivity of poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en towards Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Pt(IV) ions was investigated under competitive conditions. Poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en showed high selectivity for Pt(IV) over Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) ions at pH 2.1. At pH 5.5, the metal sorption capacities of poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en decreased in the order: Cu(II) > Co(II) > Pt(IV) ≈ Ni(II) > Pb(II). Regeneration of the Cu(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) loaded poly(GMA-co-EGDMA)-en with 2 M H 2 SO 4 showed that the polymer can be reused in several sorption/desorption cycles.