Solid phase selective separation and preconcentration of Cu(II) by Cu(II)-imprinted polymethacrylic microbeads

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) are crucial for selective ion recognition.
• Copper (Cu(II)) is an important environmental and biological ion requiring accurate quantification.
• Developing selective adsorbents for metal ion extraction remains a key challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) particles for selective Cu(II) ion extraction.
• To evaluate the adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability of the developed IIP.
• To assess the performance of the IIP for Cu(II) determination in real-world samples, such as seawater.

Main Methods:

• Copolymerization of methacrylic acid and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate in the presence of Cu(II)-4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (Cu(II)-PAR) complex.
• Batch experiments for determining adsorption capacity, optimal pH, and desorption conditions.
• Selectivity studies using Ni(II) and Co(II) ions.
• Application of the IIP for solid-phase extraction and determination of Cu(II) in seawater samples.

Main Results:

• The Cu(II)-PAR IIP exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (37.4 µmol g⁻¹) among investigated IIPs.
• Optimal preconcentration pH was 7, with quantitative desorption achieved using 1 M HNO₃.
• High selectivity coefficients were observed for Cu(II) over Ni(II) (45.0) and Co(II) (38.5).
• The Cu(II)-PAR IIP demonstrated excellent reusability and robustness in seawater samples, with low detection limits (0.001 µmol L⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• Cu(II)-PAR IIP particles are highly effective for selective and sensitive preconcentration of Cu(II) ions.
• The developed material offers a promising solution for Cu(II) determination in complex environmental matrices.
• The IIP's reusability and stability make it a cost-effective and sustainable adsorbent for analytical applications.