A novel ion-imprinted polymeric sorbent for separation and determination ofchromium(III) species in wastewater

Abstract

A new chromium(III) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared from a Cr(III)-nicotinate complex (template),acrylamide (functional monomer), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross-linking agent) using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrileas the radical initiator. IIP was characterised and used as a selective sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of Cr(III)ions. The conditions for dynamic separation of Cr(III) on IIP were optimised. Cr(III) ions are selectively retained onthe sorbent in a pH range from 9 to 10 and can be eluted with 4 mol L1acetic acid. Cr(III) ions were determined by ame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) with a detection limit of 0.08 g mL1. The method was successfullyapplied to determine Cr(III) species in wastewater and reference material RES 25.2 with a reproducibility of 1.8%{3.4%.