Preparation of crosslinked poly(styrene–<i>g</i>–N‐carboxyalkylated ethylenimine) as chelating resin

Abstract

Abstract Carboxymethyl and ethyl groups were introduced into crosslinked poly(styrene– g –ethylenimine) (PSt– g –EI), consisting of a crosslinked polystyrene backbone with linear polyethylenimine branches, by the reaction of PSt– g –EI with monochloroacetic acid and β‐chloropropionic acid. Carboxyethylation was also performed by reaction of the PSt– g –EI with acrylic acid. The extent of the reaction was determined by the change in the nitrogen content of the resin. The adsorption of metal ions such as Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Ca 2+ by carboxyalkylated PSt– g –EI was examined. With the introduction of carboxyalkyl groups, the adsorption capacity for metal ions (per gram of resin) decreased, whereas the affinity of the resin for these ions increased.