Preparation of decarboxylic-functionalized weak cation exchanger and application for simultaneous separation of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals

•A facile way to prepare decarboxylic-functionalized weak cation exchanger.•Simultaneous separation achieved for alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals.•It can be extended as an easy way to prepare other kinds of WCX.

A novel weak cation exchanger (WCX) with dicarboxyl groups functionalized has been developed by clicking mercaptosuccinic acid onto silica gel. The simple synthesis starts with modification of silica gel with triethoxyvinylsilane, followed by efficient coupling vinyl-bonded silica with mercaptosuccinic acid via a “thiol-ene” click reaction. The obtained WCX demonstrated good separation and high selectivity towards common metals. Simultaneous separation of 10 alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals was achieved within 12 min. Ion exchange and complex mechanism dominates the separation process. Its utility was demonstrated for determination of metals in tap water.

Graphical abstractA facile and green way is proposed to prepare dicarboxyl-functionalized weak cation exchanger via a “thio-ene” click reaction. It demonstrated good ability for simultaneous separation of metals.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide