Characterization and ion-exchange behavior of thermally stable nano-composite polyaniline zirconium titanium phosphate: Its analytical application in separation of toxic metals

A ‘polymeric-inorganic’ advanced nano-composite cation-exchanger has been synthesized via sol–gel technique by incorporating polyaniline into inorganic ion-exchanger, zirconium titanium phosphate, a class of mixed material of tetravalent bimetallic acid salts (TMA). The composite shows extraordinary high ion-exchange capacity of 4.52 meq g−1 as well as good chemical and thermal stability than other polyaniline composites prepared so far. The physico-chemical property of the composite, polyaniline zirconium titanium phosphate (PAZTP) was determined using AAS, TEM, SEM, FTIR and TGA-DTA studies. Ion-exchange behavior was also observed to characterize the material. On the basis of distribution studies, the material was found to be highly selective for toxic heavy metal ions Hg(II) and Pb(II). The analytical applications of the material have been explored by achieving some binary as well as ternary separations of heavy metal ions. A comparative study of the ion-exchange properties of PAZTP with other polyaniline composites has been done.