Preparation of narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres with active hydroxyl group by distillation–precipitation polymerization

Narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres with active hydroxyl groups were prepared by distillation–precipitation polymerization in the absence of any stabilizer. The monomer hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was copolymerized with either commercial divinylbenzene (DVB) (containing 80 % of DVB isomers) or ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker by distillation–precipitation polymerization technique with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator in neat acetonitrile. The effects of the crosslinker and the crosslinking degree on the morphology and the loading of the active hydroxyl group of the resultant microspheres were investigated. The agitation caused by distilling off a portion of the polymerization solvent during the polymerization avoided coagulation and resulted in the narrow‐dispersion or monodisperse polymer microspheres for the distillation precipitation technique. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of magnetic poly(styrene–glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres for highly efficient protein adsorption by two‐stage dispersion polymerization

Micrometer‐sized superparamagnetic poly(styrene–glycidyl methacrylate)/Fe₃O₄ spheres were synthesized by two‐stage dispersion polymerization with modified hydrophobic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, styrene (St), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The morphology and properties of the magnetic Fe₃O₄–P (St‐GMA) microspheres were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and attenuated total reflectance. The average size of the obtained magnetic microspheres was 1.50 μm in diameter with a narrow size distribution, and the saturation magnetization of the magnetic microspheres was 8.23 emu/g. The magnetic Fe₃O₄–P (St‐GMA) microspheres with immobilized iminodiacetic acid–Cu²⁺ groups were used to investigate the adsorption capacity and selectivity of the model proteins, bovine hemoglobin (BHb) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). We found that the adsorption capacity of BHb was as high as 190.66 mg/g of microspheres, which was 3.20 times greater than that of BSA, which was only 59.64 mg/g of microspheres as determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. With a rather low nonspecific adsorption, these microspheres have great potential for protein separation and purification applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43005.     

Dispersion polymerization of uniform cross‐linked polystyrene microspheres in butan‐1‐ol

Butan‐1‐ol can be used as the solvent in the synthesis of poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene‐co‐acrylic acid) microspheres by dispersion polymerization of a mixture of styrene, divinylbenzene (DVB), and acrylic acid (AA). Varying the proportion of the crosslinker DVB affects the size distribution and particle morphology profoundly, with 0.5–1.0% w/w producing spherical particles, whereas 2.0% w/w DVB produces irregular, concave morphologies. Varying the amount of AA from 5–7% w/w increases the average diameter of the spherical particles, whereas 9% w/w AA results in ovoid particles with dimpled surface morphology. In an optimized synthesis using 1.0% w/w DVB and 5% AA, uniform polymer microspheres with an average diameter of 0.8 µm and a coefficient of variation (CV) of diameter of 8.2% are produced. The use of a medium‐polarity solvent, such as butan‐1‐ol, as the solvent for dispersion polymerization will facilitate the incorporation of non‐polar moieties, such as organically‐passivated quantum dots, into the polymer during synthesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43103.     

Preparation of poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) microspheres and their hydrogen‐bonding assembly behavior for raspberry‐like core‐corona polymer composite

Narrowdisperse poly(divinylbenzene‐co‐N‐isopropylacrylamide) (poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM)) functional microspheres with the diameter in the range of 630 nm and 2.58 μm were prepared by distillation–precipitation polymerization in neat acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer. The effect of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) ratio in the comonomer feed on the morphology of the resultant polymer particles was investigated in detail with divinylbenzene (DVB) as crosslinker and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. The monodisperse poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM) microspheres with NIPAM fraction of 20 wt % were selected for the preparation of raspberry‐like core‐corona polymer composite by the hydrogen‐bonding self‐assembly heterocoagulation with poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate‐co‐acrylic acid) [poly(EGDMA‐co‐AA)] nanospheres. Both of the functional poly(DVB‐co‐NIPAM) microspheres and the core‐corona particles were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and elemental analysis (EA). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1350–1357, 2007     

Monodisperse plum‐like sulfonated PGMA‐DVB microspheres as a new ion exchange resin

Monodisperse plum‐like crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐divinyl benzene) (PGMA‐DVB) microspheres were prepared by dispersion polymerization using glycidyl acrylate as monomer and divinyl benzene as crosslinking agent, and then sulfonated by sulfonation process with phosphorus pentoxide to increase the grafting ratio. The morphology and composition of microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (SEM‐EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and BET surface area analyses. The average sizes of PGMA microspheres and PGMA‐DVB microspheres were 2.18 and 2.52 μm, respectively. The effect of DVB content on the properties of microspheres was investigated and the experimental results indicate that the microspheres prepared with DVB content have crinkled surface with large specific surface area, and with the increase of the DVB content, the average size of the microspheres become larger and the particle size distribution become wider. The as‐prepared sulfonated PGMA‐DVB microspheres were used to remove the copper (II) ion in solution and the maximum adsorption capacity was 75.08 mg/g. This work provides an effective but simple method for a controllable preparation of polymer microspheres with rough surface and high specific surface area, and it could be a new kind of ion exchange resin after sulfonation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44994.     

Grafting of molecularly imprinted polymers from the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles containing double bond via suspension polymerization in aqueous environment: A selective sorbent for theophylline

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were grafted from the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles containing double bond via suspension polymerization in aqueous environment, and the leakage of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles from MIPs was overcome in this study. The effect of different cross‐linker on adsorption capacity of the resultant magnetic MIPs was investigated using pure trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) or the mixture of TRIM and divinylbenzene (DVB) as cross‐linker. Both magnetic MIPs exhibited higher adsorption capacity for the template theophylline than the corresponding non‐imprinted polymer, and Freundlich model fitted reasonably well for theophylline adsorption on both magnetic MIPs. In addition, both magnetic MIPs exhibited good recognition properties for the template theophylline versus caffeine, and the selectivity of magnetic MIPs using pure TRIM as cross‐linker (mag‐MIP‐TRIM) was much higher than those using the mixture of TRIM and DVB as cross‐linker (mag‐MIP‐TRIM and DVB). The adsorption dynamics of theophylline on both magnetic MIPs fitted well with the first‐order kinetic model, but the adsorption equilibrium on mag‐MIP‐TRIM and DVB reached faster than that on mag‐MIP‐TRIM. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Narrow‐disperse or monodisperse crosslinked and functional core–shell polymer particles prepared by two‐stage precipitation polymerization

Narrow‐disperse and monodisperse cross‐linked core–shell polymer particles containing different functional groups, such as esters, hydroxyls, chloromethyls, carboxylic acids, amides, cyanos, and glycidyls, in the shell layers in the micrometer size range were prepared by a two‐stage precipitation polymerization in the absence of any stabilizer. Commercial divinylbenzene (DVB), containing 80% DVB, was precipitation polymerized in acetonitrile without any stabilizer as the first‐stage polymerization and was used as the core. Several functional monomers, including methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, t‐butyl acrylate, i‐octyl acrylate, acrylic acid, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, styrene, and p‐chloromethyl styrene, were incorporated into the shells during the second‐stage polymerization. The resulting core–shell polymer particles were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 1776–1784, 2006     

Preparation of superparamagnetic immunomicrospheres and application for antibody purification

A novel and effective protocol for the preparation of superparamagnetic immunomicrospheres has been developed. First, micro‐size magnetic poly (methacrylate‐divinylbenzene) (PMA‐DVB) spheres were prepared by a modified suspension polymerization method. The oleic acid coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles made by coprecipitation were mixed with monomers of MA, DVB, and initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to form oil in water emulsion droplets with the presence of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA‐1788) as a stabilizer. The polymerization reaction was carried out in a 2‐L beaker equipped with four vertical stainless steel baffleplates by increasing the temperature of the mixture at a controlled rate. The resulting magnetic microspheres are micro‐sized (less than 8μm in diameter) and 80 percent of them are in the size ranging from 1 to 5 μm. Then, they were highly functionalized via ammonolysis reaction with ethylenediamine, and the surface amino‐modified magnetic microspheres were obtained. The morphology and properties of these magnetic microspheres were examined by SEM, TEM, VSM, and FT‐IR. Affinity ligand protein A (ProtA) was covalently immobilized to the amino‐modified magnetic microspheres by the glutaraldehyde method. These ProtA‐immobilized magnetic immunomicrospheres were effective for affinity bioseparation processes, as was demonstrated by the efficient immunoaffinity purification of antibodies IgG2a (22mg per gram of microspheres) from mouse ascites. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2205–2211, 2004     

Polyethylenimine‐grafted and HSA‐immobilized poly(GMA–MMA) affinity adsorbents for bilirubin removal

The epoxy‐group‐containing microspheres from cross‐linked glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate, poly(GMA–MMA), were prepared by suspension polymerisation. The epoxy groups of the poly(GMA–MMA) microspheres were used for grafting with an anionic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) to prepare non‐specific affinity adsorbents (poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI) for bilirubin removal. The specificity of the poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI adsorbent to bilirubin was further increased by immobilization of human serum albumin (HSA) via adsorption onto PEI‐grafted poly(GMA–MMA) adsorbent. Various amounts of HSA were immobilized on the poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI adsorbent by changing the medium pH and initial HSA concentration. The maximum HSA content was obtained at 68.3 mg g^?1 microspheres. The effects of pH, ionic strength, temperature and initial bilirubin concentration on the adsorption capacity of both adsorbents were investigated in a batch system. Separation of bilirubin from human serum was also investigated in a continuous‐flow system. The bilirubin adsorption on the poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI and poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI–HSA was not well described by the Langmuir model, but obeyed the Freundlich isotherm model. The poly(GMA–MMA)–PEI affinity microspheres are stable when subjected to sanitization with sodium hydroxide after repeated adsorption–desorption cycles. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of monodisperse fluorescent core–shell polymer microspheres with functional groups in the shell layer by two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization

Monodisperse crosslinked core–shell micrometer‐sized microspheres bearing a brightly blue fluorescent dye, carbazole, and containing various functional groups in the shell layers were prepared by a two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization in acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer. Commercial divinylbenzene (DVB), containing 80 vol.% of DVB, was polymerized by distillation–precipitation in acetonitrile without any stabilizer using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator for the first stage of polymerization which resulted in monodisperse polyDVB microspheres used as the core. Several functional monomers, including 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile together with N‐vinylcarbazole blue fluorescent comonomer, were incorporated into the shell layers with AIBN as initiator during the second stage of polymerization. The resultant core–shell polymer microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Chelation properties of poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone) resins toward some divalent metal ions

The chelation behavior of poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone) [poly(2H4ABP) or polymer I ] obtained through the free‐radical polymerization of 2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone monomer and for crosslinked polymers prepared from the monomer and known amounts of the crosslinker divinylbenzene (DVB) [4 mol % of DVB for polymer II, 8 mol % of DVB for polymer III, and 16 mol 16% of DVB for polymer IV ] toward the divalent metal ions Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Pb²⁺ in aqueous solution was studied by a batch equilibration technique as a function of contact time and pH. The effect of the crosslinker, DVB, was also studied. The metal‐ion uptake of the polymers was determined with atomic absorption spectroscopy, and the highest uptake was achieved at pH 7.0 for polymers I, II, III, and IV. The selectivity and binding capacity of the resins toward the investigated divalent metal ions are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

The surface modification of magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron and application in Au(III) adsorption

An improved suspension polymerization method for preparation of the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres (mPMA‐DVB) was investigated. Through subsequent reaction with methyl acrylate (MA) and ethylenediamine (EDA), the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron surface was obtained, and the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron surface reacted with carbon bisulfide and sodium hydroxide to create sodium dithiocarbamate. Following, the resultant magnetic microspheres with dendron surface modification were used to adsorb Au(III) from aqueous solution. The result showed that the capacity of amino groups on the surface of the mPMA microspheres increased from 1.67 mmol/g for the magnetic polymer microspheres with G₀ dendron to 4.35 mmol/g with G₃ dendron, and the adsorption capacity rose from 0.1981 g/g with G₀ dendron to 0.7853 g/g with G₃ dendron. The effects of solution pH, the adsorption temperature, the adsorption time, and the initial concentration of Au(III) on the adsorption of Au(III) were studied, the optimum pH for Au(III) adsorption was found at pH = 1, the adsorption capacity achieved the maximum in 60 min, and the adsorption process was endothermic reaction and conformed to pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. Furthermore, the adsorption process was in accordance with the Langmuir model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

The effect of crosslinking on the adsorption behavior of copper (II) onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone)

The adsorption behavior of Cu(II) ions onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone), polymer I, and onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone) crosslinked with different amounts of divinylbenzene (DVB), polymers II, III, and IV, in aqueous solutions was investigated using batch adsorption experiments as a function of contact time, pH, and temperature. The amount of metal ion uptake of the polymers was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and the highest uptake was achieved at pH 7.0 and by using perchlorate as an ionic strength adjuster for polymers I, II, III, and IV. Results revealed that the adsorption capacity (q_e and Q_m) of Cu(II) ions decreases with increasing crosslinking due to the decrease of chelation sites. In addition, the rate of adsorption (k₂) of Cu(II) ions decreases with the increase of crosslinking because it becomes more difficult for Cu(II) ions to diffuse into the chelation sites. The isothermal behavior and the kinetics of adsorption of Cu(II) ions on these polymers with respect to the initial mass of the polymer and temperature were also investigated. The experimental data of the adsorption process was found to correlate well with the Langmuir isotherm model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Preparation and characterization of proton‐exchange hybrid membranes

Two types of composite were prepared, based on a thermoplastic polymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and an elastomer, ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer (EPDM), respectively. We obtained both series by addition of an inorganic proton‐conducting antimonic acid derivative (HSb) and polystyrene crosslinked with a small percentage of divinylbenzene (PS‐co‐DVB). From these composites, membranes were obtained and subjected to a heterogeneous‐phase sulfonation reaction with chlorosulfonic acid. All experimental materials were characterized from a morphological and electrical point of view, by means of techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), non‐isothermal crystallization and complex impedance analysis. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of monodisperse crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres by precipitation polymerization in acetic acid

Poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres with size ranging from 1.6 to 1.8 μm were prepared in acetic acid by precipitation polymerization. The particle size and particle size distribution were determined by laser diffraction particle size analyzer, and the morphology of the particles was observed with scanning electron microscope. Besides, effects of various polymerization parameters such as initiator and total monomer concentration, divinylbenzene (DVB) content, polymerization time and polymerization temperature on the morphology and particle size were investigated in this article. In addition, the yield of microspheres increased with the increasing total monomer concentration, initiator loading, DVB concentration and polymerization time. In addition, the optimum polymerization conditions for synthesis of monodisperse crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres by precipitation polymerization in acetic acid were obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Metal‐chelating properties of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate–methacryloylamidohistidine) membranes

Metal‐chelating membranes have advantages as adsorbents in comparison with conventional beads because they are not compressible and they eliminate internal diffusion limitations. The aim of this study was to explore in detail the performance of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate–methacryloylamidohistidine) [poly(HEMA–MAH)] membranes for the removal of three toxic heavy‐metal ions—Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II)—from aquatic systems. The poly(HEMA–MAH) membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity of the poly(HEMA–MAH) membranes for the selected heavy‐metal ions from aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (30–500 mg/L) and at different pH values (3.0–7.0) was investigated. The adsorption capacity of the membranes increased with time during the first 60 min and then leveled off toward the equilibrium adsorption. The maximum amounts of the heavy‐metal ions adsorbed were 8.2, 31.5, and 23.2 mg/g for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II), respectively. The competitive adsorption of the metal ions was also studied. When the metal ions competed, the adsorbed amounts were 2.9 mg of Cd(II)/g, 14.8 mg of Pb(II)/g, and 9.4 mg of Hg(II)/g. The poly(HEMA–MAH) membranes could be regenerated via washing with a solution of nitric acid (0.01M). The desorption ratio was as high as 97%. These membranes were suitable for repeated use for more than three adsorption/desorption cycles with negligible loss in the adsorption capacity. The stability constants for the metal‐ion/2‐methacryloylamidohistidine complexes were calculated to be 3.47 × 10⁶, 7.75 × 10⁷, and 2.01 × 10⁷ L/mol for Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II) ions, respectively, with the Ruzic method. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1213–1219, 2005     

Preparation of magnetic ion‐exchange resins by the suspension polymerization of styrene with magnetite

Magnetic polymer microspheres composed of magnetite, styrene, and divinylbenzene were prepared by suspension polymerization to produce magnetic ion‐exchange resins (MIEXs). The magnetite was grafted with oleic acid to improve the magnetic properties of the MIEXs and to prevent the magnetite from flushing out of the MIEXs. The shape and magnetic properties of the magnetic microspheres were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and vibrating‐sample magnetometry. The average diameter of the prepared magnetic polymer microspheres was about 219 μm. The two types of MIEXs were prepared, magnetic cation‐exchange resins (MCEXs) and magnetic anion‐exchange resins (MAEXs). MCEX was prepared by sulfonation of magnetic polymer microspheres, and MAEX was made by a quaternization reaction with triethylamine of chloromethylated magnetic polymer microspheres. With diffuse‐reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and acid–base titration, the degree of substitution and ion‐exchange capacity of the MIEXs were assessed. The efficiency of each MCEX and MAEX for the purification of contaminated water was examined with Co²⁺ and NO solutions, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2058–2067, 2003     

Porous microspheres,copolymers of bis[4‐(2‐hydroxy‐ 3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide,and divinylbenzene as stationary phase for HPLC

Synthesis of highly crosslinked methacrylate copolymers of in form of microspheres is presented. They are prepared from tetrafunctional methacrylate derivative of bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)sulfide, bis[4‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide (BES‐DM), and divinylbenzene (DVB). In chemical structure of these copolymers exhibit hydroxyl and ester groups of hydrophilic nature. Additionally, copolymer contains sulfur atoms coming from BES‐DM monomer. Porous structure of the copolymers in the dry and wet state was studied. Microspheres possessing the largest pore volume and specific surface area were subjected to chromatographic investigations. The results show that polar functional groups existing in the chemical structure of the studied microspheres have influence on reversed‐phase HPLC retention mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Fe2+ and Fe3+ adsorption on 2‐vinylpyridine–divinylbenzene copolymers and acrylonitrile–methyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene terpolymers

The adsorption of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions on 2‐vinylpyridine–divinylbenzene copolymer and acrylonitrile–methyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene terpolymer was investigated. In general, the adsorption of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in both resins increased with the enhancement of hydrochloric acid and metal concentration. The metal adsorption on the terpolymer increased sharply with the addition of small portions of ethanol, whereas the adsorption on the copolymer practically was not affected by the presence of the alcohol. An increase in temperature produced a small increase in iron adsorption for both resins. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that nitrile and ester groups of the terpolymer did not suffer hydrolysis during metal adsorption, even for the highest HCl concentration and the highest temperature applied. A mechanism of iron adsorption through the ion exchange of chloride anions by tetrahedral [FeCl₄]^2? or [FeCl₄]^? anions is proposed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3905–3912, 2003     

Polyelectrolyte‐assisted removal of metal ions with ultrafiltration

The water‐soluble polymers poly(styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) and poly(acrylic acid‐co‐maleic acid) were investigated with respect to their metal‐ion‐binding ability with ultrafiltration. The studied metal ions included Ag(I), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Ca(II), Mg(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Al(III), and Cr(III) ions. The retention properties of the polyelectrolytes for the metal ions depended strongly on the ligand type. As for the carboxylate ligands, with increasing concentration and pH, the metal‐binding affinity increased. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1091–1099, 2005