Ion-imprinted polymer-based on picolinic acid as a co-functional monomer for highly selective sorption of Cu(II) ions in an aqueous solution

Polymer particles imprinted with Cu(II) ions was synthesized by bulk polymerization technique using methacrylic acid as a monomer, co-polymerized with picolinate complex in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linking agent. The morphology of Cu(II)-ion imprinted polymer (Cu-IIP) and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were observed by scanning electron microscopy and functional groups present were determined by infrared spectroscopy. Rebinding adsorption of Cu-IIP and NIP were studied via atomic adsorption spectrometer by varying the sample mass and time taken. The distribution of Cu(II) ions and the adsorption behavior towards solid phase of imprinted polymer were investigated through equilibrium adsorption isotherm. The study revealed that Cu(II) ions recoveries can achieve up to 90% for imprinted polymer with a maximum binding capacity of 15.58 mg/g. The values of the correlation coefficient, R2 for Langmuir and pseudo-second order were found better than that of Freundlich and pseudo-first order, respectively. It was believed that the Cu-IIP has a potential to be used as sorbent material for pre-concentration of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution.