[Preparation and characteristics of a novel Cu(II)-imprinted epoxy resin-based monolithic polymer]

A novel Cu(II)-imprinted monolithic polymer was prepared by step-polymerization reaction of epoxy resin. A homogenous mixture of epoxy resin, diethylenetriamine as curing agent, copper ion as target molecule and polyethylene glycol as pore-forming reagent was poured into a glass-tube and polymerized under controlled reaction temperature and time. The PEG and copper ions were all removed from the solid product by deionized water and strong acid, respectively. The Cu(II)-imprinted epoxy resin-based monolithic porous polymer was successfully obtained, which was used as solid-phase extraction matrix for preconcentration and separation of trace copper ions in aqueous solution for determination by atomic adsorption spectrometry. The effect of pH on adsorption, maximum adsorption capacity, selectivity, analytical precision and availability was investigated in details by a series of experiments. Under the optimized enrichment conditions, i.e., pH 5.0-9.0 of medium and flow rate below 5.0 mL x min(-1), the recovery of Cu(II) ions in the aqueous solution could be over 95%. The maximum adsorption capacity is 126 mg Cu (II) x g(-1) dried resin. The selective recognition ability of Cu(II))-imprinted monolithic column is evidently preponderant over the non-imprinted materials. The up-loaded column could be completely eluted with 1.0 mol x L(-1) HNO3 and flow rate below 2.0 mL x min(-1). The proposed procedure was applied to the analysis of a mixed sample with satisfied result.