Ion-exchange studies of ‘organic–inorganic’ nano-composite cation-exchanger: Poly-o-anisidine Sn(IV) tungstate and its analytical application for the separations of toxic metals

The separation of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions was studied using Poly-o-anisidine Sn(IV) tungstate nano-composite cation exchanger. This nano-composite material was synthesized via sol–gel mixing of Poly-o-anisidine with the inorganic precipitate of Sn(IV) tungstate, providing a new class of organic–inorganic nano-composite cation exchanger with good ion-exchange capacity, better chemical and thermal stability than most of the Poly-o-anisidine based exchanger reported so far. The ion-exchange capacity and ion-exchange behaviors of the nano-composite were also carried out to understand the ion-exchange capabilities. Its selectivity was examined by achieving some important binary and tertiary separations of metal cations on its column indicating its utility in environmental pollution control. This new exchanger was successfully applied for quantitative determination and separation of Hg(II) from a synthetic mixture of metal ions.