Synthesis and characterization of ion imprinted polymeric nanoparticles for selective extraction and determination of mercury ions

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis of a new Hg²⁺-ion imprinted polymeric nanomaterial by a precipitation polymerization technique using 1-(2-acetatophenyl)-3-(4-methylphenyl) triazine as a ligand, ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate as a crosslinker, and methacrylic acid as a functional monomer. The imprinted mercury ion was removed from the polymer using 1.0 M HCl. The ion-imprinted polymeric nanoparticles were characterized by IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs showed colloidal nanoparticles of 90–110 nm in diameter which were slightly irregular in shape. The maximum adsorption capacity of the prepared particles was 2.75 mg g⁻¹. The experimental conditions such as the nature of the eluent, eluent concentration, pH, adsorption and desorption times, weight of the polymer material, aqueous phase, and desorption volumes were also studied in detail. Finally, the selectivity of the prepared IIP particles toward mercury ions was investigated in the presence of some foreign metal ions.