Separation and determination of some metal ions on new chelating resins containing N, N donor sets

Two new stable chelating resins have been synthesized incorporating the imidazolylazobenzene and 1,4-bis(imidazolylazo)benzene as functional group into Merrifield polymer through CN covalent bond and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and thermal study. A comparison of sorption capacity of newly formed resins towards the cations Ag(I), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Pb(II) as a function of pH has been studied. Kinetic studies show the time for the completeness of metal ion saturation with the resin phase. Cd(II) in trace quantities has been successfully separated and determined in different biological samples and Zn(II) in medicinal samples. It is also found that Cd(II) can be removed from water at usual pH of natural water. Both the resins can be employed for water purification as the resins reveal sorption ability towards toxic metal ions and exhibit no affinity to alkali or alkaline earth metal ions.