Synthesis of water‐insoluble functional copolymers containing amide, amine, and carboxylic acid groups and their metal‐ion‐uptake properties

Abstract

Abstract The crosslinked poly[ N ‐(3‐dimethylamino)propylmethacrylamide] [P(NDAPA)] and poly[ N ‐(3‐dimethylamino)propylmethacrylamide‐ co ‐acrylic acid] [P(NDAPA‐ co ‐AA)] were synthesized by radical polymerization. The resins were completely insoluble in water. The metal‐ion‐uptake properties were studied by a batch equilibrium procedure for the following metal ions: silver(I), copper(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II), lead(II), mercury(II), chromium(III), and aluminum(III). The P(NDAPA‐ co ‐AA) resin showed a lower metal‐ion affinity than P(NDAPA), except for Hg(II), which was retained at 71% at pH 2. At pH 5, the resin showed a higher affinity for Pb(II) (80%) and Cu(II) (60%), but its affinity was very low for Zn(II) and Cr(III). The polymer ligand–metal‐ion equilibrium was achieved during the first 20 min. By changing the pH, we found it possible to remove between 60 and 70% of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions with (1 M, 4 M ) HClO 4 and (1 M, 4 M ) HNO 3 . © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:5232–5239, 2006