Synthesis, characterization and application of a novel zinc(II) ion-imprinted polymer

In our study, a Zn(II) ion-imprinted polymer (ZnIP) and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were synthesized via free-radical polymerization. 1-Vinylimidazole, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile were used as functional, cross-linking monomers and free-radical initiator, respectively. The obtained polymer was characterized by various analytical methods (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence, UV VIS, thermal analysis). The sorption properties of ZnIP and NIP were evaluated after removal of Zn(II) ions from the polymer network. The optimum pH for adsorption was 7.0. The maximum adsorption capacity at the pH was 5.2 and 0.22 mg/g for ZnIP and NIP, respectively. To determine the selectivity, the polymer was equilibrated with the binary mixture of Zn(II) ions and the interfering ions [Cu(II), Ni(II) or Co(II)]. The relative selectivity of ZnIP was 22.57, 5.44 and 46.17 for Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) ions, respectively. The proposed ZnIP sorbent was applied to determine the zinc ions in urine samples by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence.