Synthesis of a New Ion Imprinted Polymer Material for Separation and Preconcentration of Traces of Neodymium Ions
Neodymium ion imprinted polymers (IIP) were synthesized by formation of ternary complexes of neodymium ion with Vanillin Benzidine(VLB) and 4-vinylpyridine (VP) as chelating agent following copolymerizing with styrene as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linking monomer using 2,2´-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Control polymers(CPs) were prepared under identical conditions without the use of neodymium imprint ion. The synthesized polymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analyzer techniques. Of the several polymers synthesized, only the imprinted polymer formed with ternary complex of Nd3+–VLB–VP(1:1:2 IIP) showed quantitative enrichment of neodymium ion from aqueous solution.