Functionalized Polymers for Binding to Solutes in Aqueous Solutions

Title Functionalized Polymers for Binding to Solutes in Aqueous Solutions 

A method for extracting cadmium, copper, europium, and nickel metal ions from aqueous solution using modified polyethyleneimine is described. The polymer modification consists of grafting an imide, diol, triol, carboxylic acid, or thiocar-boxylic acid function to poly(ethyleneimine), which then forms stable metal complexes that are readily removed from solution. 

A reactor containing polyethyleneimine (43.75 mmol) dissolved in 150 ml of ethanol was treated with diethyl tartrate (43.75 mmol) and then refluxed for 15 hours. The mixture was cooled to ambient temperature, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in water and purified by diafiltration and 9.5 g product isolated. 

FTIR (cm ) 1654indicative that the starting ester (C=0, 1734cm ) consumed. 

TABLE 1. Modified polyethyleneimine derivatives effective for chelating copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, europium, and lead metal ions in aqueous solution. 

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