Chelation Ion-Exchange Properties of Orthonitrophenol-Thiourea-Paraformaldehyde Terpolymer

M. Karunakaran¹ and A. Burkanudeen²*

¹Department of Chemistry, N.G.M. College, Pollachi- 642 001 (India) ²Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Jamal Mohammed College, Tiruchirapalli- 620 020 (India)

Orthonitrophenol and Thiourea with Paraformaldehyde Terpolymer have been synthesised in presence of acid catalyst, proved to be selective chelating ion exchange characteristics for certain metals. The terpolymer synthesised was characterised by molecular weight measurements and IR spectroscopy. Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and UO22+ were the metal ions used for the chelation. A batch equilibration method was adopted for the ion selectivity involving the measurement of the distribution of metal ions between the polymer sample and the solution containing the metal ion.

Ion-exchange properties; orthonitrophenol; thiourea; paraformaldehyde; terpolymer