Synthesis of hydrophilic macroporous chelating polymers and their versatility in the preconcentration of metals in seawater samples

We systematically synthesized hydrophilic matrix polymers using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) by the radical suspension copolymerization method. Methyl iso-butylketone added to the monomer phase as a porogen was effective in the formation of macroporous structures. Triethylenetetramine (TTA) was introduced on the matrix polymers as a chelating moiety (PGMA-EGDMA-TTA), and the adsorption and desorption characteristics of the obtained chelating polymers for several metals were investigated. A better candidate, PGMA-EGDMA-TTA polymer, was packed into a column and the applicability for the preconcentration of metals in seawater samples was tested. A PGMA-EGDMA-TTA possesses the preferable adsorptivity for metals at the seawater pH and a favorable desorption profile using an acid eluent. In addition, a PGMA-EGDMA-TTA-packed column was effective for the preconcentration of metals in the seawater samples.