Synthesis and chelation properties of a new polymeric ligand derived from 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic Acid

A novel chelating resin for preconcentration of heavy metals from various seawater samples has been developed by condensing 1-amino-2-hydroxy-7-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)diazenyl] naphthalene-4-sulfonic acid (AHDNS) with formaldehyde (1:2 mole ratio) in the presence of oxalic acid as the catalyst. The resin thus obtained was used as a solid sorbent for the separation of divalent metal ions present at trace levels in seawater. The functionalized phenol (AHDNS) was characterized by spectral studies. The polymeric resin AHDNS-formaldehyde (AHDNS-F) obtained by condensing the functionalized phenol and formaldehyde was characterized by IR and NMR spectral studies. The chelating property of the AHDNS-F resin towards divalent metal ions was studied as a function of pH and in the presence of electrolyte. The metal uptake properties of the resin were determined by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This procedure was validated for recovery of divalent metal ions from seawater samples. The recoveries of cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, lead, and zinc were above 92% under the optimum preconcentration conditions. The LOD was <0.73 μg/L and the RSDs were <2%. Thus, the AHDNS-F resin can be widely used as a solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace metals at ppm levels in seawater samples.