Synthesis and characterization of UO22+-ion imprinted polymer for selective extraction of UO22+

Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) were prepared for uranyl ion (imprint ion) by formation of binary (salicylaldoxime (SALO) or 4-vinylpyridine (VP)) or ternary (salicylaldoxime and 4-vinylpyridine) complex in 2-methoxy ethanol (porogen) following copolymerization with methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking monomer using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Control polymers (CPs) were also prepared under identical experimental conditions without using imprint ion. The above synthesized polymers were characterized by surface area measurement, microanalysis and FT-IR analysis techniques. The imprinted polymer formed with ternary complex of UO22+–SALO–VP (1:2:2, IIP3) showed quantitative enrichment of uranyl ion from dilute aqueous solution and hence was chosen for detailed studies. The optimal pH for quantitative enrichment is 3.5–6.5. The adsorbed UO22+ was completely eluted with 10 mL of 1.0 M HCl. The retention capacity of IIP3 was found to be 0.559 mmol g−1. Further, the distribution ratio and selectivity coefficients of uranium and other selected inorganic ions were also evaluated. Five replicate determinations of 25 μg L−1 of uranium(VI) gave a mean absorbance of 0.032 with a relative standard deviation of 2.20%. The detection limit corresponding to three times the standard deviation of the blank was found to be 5 μg L−1. IIP3 was tested for preconcentration of uranium(VI) from ground, river and sea water samples.