Synthesis, characterization and ion-exchange properties of acrylic copolymers derived from 8-quinolinyl methacrylate

The monomer 8-quinolinyl methacrylate (8-QMA) was synthesized from 8-hydroxyquinoline and then characterized by conventional methods. The homo- and copolymers of 8-QMA with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in different feed ratios were prepared by free radical polymerization using dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent and 2,2'-azobis isobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The resulting polymers were characterized by using IR spectroscopy. Reactivity ratios of monomeric units were evaluated using UV-spectroscopy. Average molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Solution viscosity was also determined. The thermal analysis was carried out using TGA and DSC. The metal ion uptake capacity of synthesized copolymers was estimated by batch equilibration method using different metal ion solutions under different experimental conditions. It is observed that due to the present of pendant ester bound quinolinyl group, the copolymers are capable of adsorbing the tested cations from their aqueous solution.