Metal complexation of poly[1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)aziridine‐<i>co</i>‐2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline] in aqueous solution

Abstract

Abstract The metal complexation of water‐soluble poly[1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)aziridine‐ co ‐2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline] with Co(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cr(III), Fe(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Sr(II) ions was investigated in aqueous phase using Liquid‐Phase Polymer‐Based Retention (LPR). The study shows that all metal ions are complexed at pH 5, except Co(II) and Zn(II). In contrast to Sr(II), which showed only a slight interaction over a pH range of 3 to 7, 94% of Co(II) and 88% of Zn(II) were retained at pH 7. At pH 3, only Cu(II) and Cr(III) ions interacted with the copolymer with retention values of 76% for Cu(II) and 52% for Cr(III). Viscosimetric measurements of the copolymer were performed in the presence of metal ions at different pH values.