Poly(acrylic acid-co-vinylsulfonic acid): Synthesis, characterization, and properties as polychelatogen

The synthesis of the water‐soluble poly(acrylic acid‐co‐vinylsulfonic acid) at different feed monomer ratios, while maintaining constant the total number of mol, was carried out by radical polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR and 1H‐NMR spectroscopies. The copolymer composition was determined by its sulfur content and by potentiometric titration. The metal ion binding properties for Ni(II) and Cu(II) in the aqueous phase were studied using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) technique for two values of ionic strength. For comparison, the retention properties of both homopolymers were included. The complexing ability of the polymer was determined by the relative amount of carboxylic acid groups. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1698–1704, 2003