Complex formation and adsorption of V3+, Cr3+ and Fe3+ ions with poly(N-vinylimidazole)

The complex formation of soluble poly (N-vinylimidazole) (PVIm) with trivalent metal ions in aqueous solution was studied by using UV-vis spectroscopy. Formation constants of PVIm-metal complexes were calculated by applying the "molar ratio" method. It was found that the interaction between PVIm and trivalent metal ions follows 4(base unit):1(metal ion) stoichiometry. The stability constants for the complexes of PVIm with trivalent transition-metal ions were in agreement with the Irving-William series. The biggest formation constant was found for the PVIm-Fe3+ complex system. The capacity of adsorption for these metal ions was investigated using cross-linked PVIm. Cross-linked PVIm hydrogels were prepared by irradiating binary mixture of N-vinylimidazole-water with a Co-60 gamma-ray source having a dose rate of 4.5 kGy/h. Adsorption studies were performed at different pH and metal ion concentrations at room temperature. It was observed that the same sequence for the metal ions was verified by adsorption studies.