A novel magnetic and hydrophilic ion-imprinted polymer as a selective sorbent for the removal of cobalt ions from industrial wastewater

A novel magnetic cobalt ion-imprinted polymer (Co(II)-IIP) was prepared by precipitation polymerization using 1-vinylimidazole as a functional monomer. The relative selectivity coefficients of Co(II)-IIP for Co(II)/Cu(II), Co(II)/Cd(II), Co(II)/Zn(II), and Co(II)/Pb(II) were 19.99, 50.28, 11.02, and 7.56, respectively. The experimental datas fit well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The max Co-adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir isotherm is 23.09 mg/g for Co(II)-IIP. D-R model suggests that chemisorption is the dominant adsorption mechanism. The kinetics studies indicated that the adsorption process closely correlated with a pseudo-second-order model. Co(II)-IIP can be reused more than four times, which demonstrate it have strong performance stability. TLC plates experimental verified that the imprinted material have good hydrophilic property. In addition, Co(II)-IIP can remove Co(II) ion with higher 96% from wasterwater, which confirms it is good adsorbents for the removal of Co(II).