Synthesis of hydrophilic macroporous chelating polymers and their versatility
in the preconcentration of metals in seawater samples
ABSTRACT
We systematically synthesized hydrophilic matrix polymers using glycidyl
methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) by the radical
suspension copolymerization method. Methyl iso-butylketone added to the
monomer phase as a porogenwas effective in the formation of macroporous
structures. Triethylenetetramine (TTA) was introduced on the matrix polymers
as a chelating moiety (PGMA-EGDMA-TTA), and the adsorption and desorption
characteristics of the obtained chelating polymers for several metals were
investigated. A better candidate, PGMA-EGDMA-TTA polymer, was packed into
a column and the applicability for the preconcentration of metals in seawater
samples was tested. A PGMA-EGDMA-TTA possesses the preferable adsorptivity
for metals at the seawater pH and a favorable desorption profile using
an acid eluent. In addition, a PGMA-EGDMA-TTA-packed column was effective
for the preconcentration of metals in the seawater samples.