Imprinted polymer/organo-smectite nanocomposites for paraoxon hydrolysis

We have used the imprinting technique to create a polymer/organo-smectite nanocomposite catalyst. The aim was preparing a synthetic enzyme which shows high selectivity for paraoxon hydrolysis. Paraoxon imprinted polymer/organo-smectite composites (PIPO) and non-imprinted polymer/organo-smectite composites (NIPO) were prepared using methacryloylhistidine-Cu²⁺ (MAH-Cu(II)) and [2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethylhexadecylammonium bromide] (MOEDMAC₁₆) modified smectite. These nanocomposites were applied as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of paraoxon which is an organophosphate ester and used as a pesticide. The catalytic activity of these composites was evaluated according to the enzyme kinetics model of Michaelis–Menten. PIPO showed better catalytic activity than NIPO. In addition, the paraoxon imprinted nanocomposite had greater catalytic activity (based on k_cat/K_m values) for paraoxon hydrolysis by a factor of 391 compared to that of parathion hydrolysis.     

Synthesis of novel copper ion-selective material based on hierarchically imprinted cross-linked poly(acrylamide-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)

A novel hierarchically imprinted cross-linked poly(acrylamide-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) using a double-imprinting approach for the Cu²⁺ selective separation from aqueous medium was prepared. In the imprinting process, both Cu²⁺ ions and surfactant micelles (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide – CTAB) were employed as templates. The hierarchically imprinted organic polymer named (IIP-CTAB), single-imprinted (IIP-no CTAB) and non-imprinted (NIP-CTAB and NIP-no CTAB) polymers were characterized by SEM, FTIR, TG, elemental analysis and textural data from BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) and BJH (Barrett–Joyner–Halenda). Compared to these materials, IIP-CTAB showed higher selectivity, specific surface area and adsorption capacity toward Cu²⁺ ions. Good selectivity for Cu²⁺ was obtained for the Cu²⁺/Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺/Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺/Co²⁺ systems when IIP-CTAB was compared to the single-imprinted (IIP-no CTAB) and non double-imprinted polymer (NIP-CTAB), thereby confirming the improvement in the polymer selectivity due to double-imprinting effect. For adsorption kinetic data, the best fit was provided with the pseudo-second-order model for the four materials, thereby indicating the chemical nature of the Cu²⁺ adsorption process. Cu²⁺ adsorption under equilibrium was found to follow dual-site Langmuir–Freundlich model isotherm, thus suggesting the existence of adsorption sites with low and high binding energy on the adsorbent surface. From column experiments 600 adsorption–desorption cycles using 1.8 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ as eluent confirmed the great recoverability of adsorbent. The synthesis approach here investigated has been found to be very attractive for the designing of organic ion imprinted polymer and can be expanded to the other polymers to improve performance of ion imprinted polymers in the field of solid phase extraction.     

Imprinted microspheres and nanoparticles with diclofenac sodium: effect of solvent on the morphology and recognition properties

To achieve suitable properties for specific applications, we synthesized diclofenac sodium (Ds) imprinted polymer beads with controllable size in the range of around 145 nm to 3 µm in diameter by the precipitation polymerization method using methacrylic acid as functional monomer, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as crosslinker and azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. We analyzed the effect of the porogenic solvent on the morphology and recognition of particles. SEM analysis showed some dissimilarity in appearance of the imprinted polymers. The specific surface areas were 246 m² g^–1 and 260 m² g^–1 for imprinted polymers prepared in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran/acetonitrile (MIP1) and tetrahydrofuran/toluene (MIP2) respectively, which were in good agreement with the binding capacities of 150.4 mg g^–1 for MIP1 and 280.4 mg g^–1 for MIP2, but the imprinted nanoparticles with a specific selectivity factor of 1.5 had a better recognition property to Ds than the analog template meclofenamate sodium monohydrate (Ms) and also faster rebinding kinetics or greater accessibility of Ds. Finally the imprinted microspheres were successfully applied as a solid phase extraction sorbent for the extraction of Ds from human urine with limits of detection and quantification of 0.085 mg L^–1 and 0.227 mg L^–1, respectively. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Zn2+-imprinted porous polymer beads: Synthesis,structure, and selective adsorption behavior for template ion

Zn²⁺-imprinted polymer was synthesized in porous spherical forms via a self-assembled complex between 2,2′-bipyridyl/4-vinylpyridine complexant/functional monomer and Zn²⁺ template ion. Diameters of particles ranged from 250 to 550 μm to enlarge the surface area and thus enhance the adsorption capacity. The presence/absence of the template ion in the preparation of the imprinted polymer was confirmed by EDX spectroscopy, and the physical structure of the particles was investigated using ESEM and BET analysis. The particle and the pore size were controlled by the cross-linker/monomer feed ratio. The adsorption capacity of the imprinted polymers was 210.61 μmol g^?1 for Zn²⁺, while those for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Pb²⁺, were 37.92 μmol g^?1, 33.02 μmol g^?1, and 9.70 μmol g^?1, respectively. This big discrepancy of the adsorption capacities illustrates the excellent separation selectivity of the imprinted polymers. The adsorption capacity decreased significantly at pH below 4.5, as the polymers are easily protonated. The imprinted particles lost only 10 % of their adsorption ability after 10 repeated uses.     

Studies on selective adsorption resins. XXI. Preparation and properties of macroreticular chelating ion exchange resins containing phosphoric acid groups

Macroreticular cation exchange resins containing phosphoric acid groups (RGP) were prepared by the reaction of glycidyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene copolymer [or poly(glycidyl methacrylate)]beads (RG) with phosphoric acid or phosphorous oxychloride, and the adsorption behavior of metal ions on the RGP was investigated. The phosphorylation of the polymer beads could be effectively carried out by treatment of the polymer beads with 85% phosphoric acid at 80°C for 3 h. The RGP obtained from glycidyl methacrylate–divinylbenzene (2 mol %) copolymer beads showed high cation exchange capacity, salt splitting capacity, and adsorption capacity for Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ag⁺. On the other hand, the RGP obtained from poly(glycidyl methacrylate)beads had high adsorption capacity for Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, and UO₂²⁺. The RGP prepared by treating the RG with phosphoric acid had a higher selective adsorption for Li⁺ than for Na⁺.     

Synthesis of Copper and Lead Ion Imprinted Polymer Submicron Spheres to Remove Cu2+ and Pb2+

In this paper, Methacrylic acid (MAA) and 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) as functional monomers, Ethylene glycol two methyl acrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinking agent, isopropyl alcohol as the solvent, prepared the Cu(II)- and Pb(II)- imprinted polymers (IIPs) submicron spheres by precipitation polymerization. The presence/absence of the template ion in the preparation of the imprinted polymer was confirmed by EDX spectroscopy, and the structure of the particles was investigated using IR, SEM and BET analysis. From different components of crosslinker/monomer (C/M) ratio analysis, C/M at 1:3 was the optimal ratio for preparing IIPs. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was characterized the imprinted polymers absorption behavior. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ -imprinted polymer were 26.9 mg g^?1 and 25.3 mg g^?1, respectively. They also have good adsorption capacity and superior selectivity property for Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in water, respectively. The selectivity factors (α) for Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺ were 16.5 (Cu²⁺) and 12.1 (Pb²⁺), 13.8 (Cu²⁺) and 16.2 (Pb²⁺), 10.8 (Cu²⁺) and 10.1 (Pb²⁺), 20.4 (Cu²⁺) and 20.7 (Pb²⁺), respectively. The regeneration experiment result demonstrates an excellent re-utilization property of these two type IIPs, after ten uses, the adsorption capacity can maintain above 60%.

     

Evaluation of chitosan tripolyphosphate gel beads as bioadsorbents for iron in aqueous solution and in human blood in vitro

Nonimprinted and Fe³⁺ imprinted chitosan tripolyphosphate gel beads were prepared via physical gel formation. A method based on in situ crosslinking using ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether was developed to imprint the chitosan tripolyphosphate gels with Fe³⁺ ion without deteriorating the gel beads. The beads were characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, and DSC with respect to the chemical structure, surface morphology, crystallinity, and thermal behavior. Swelling kinetics and Fe³⁺ ion adsorption behavior from aqueous solution were studied. The Fe³⁺ imprinted and in situ crosslinked beads proved to be durable and effective adsorbents for Fe³⁺ in solution. The bead prepared by in situ crosslinking and in the presence of 10 mM template ion had an equilibrium iron adsorption capacity of 53.9 mg/g after 3-hour contact with 5 mM Fe³⁺ solution. The pros and cons of the beads as biomedical iron adsorbents were tested by evaluating their serum iron removal capacities from human blood. The preliminary tests carried out showed that Fe³⁺ imprinted beads were more effective in decreasing serum iron in human blood when compared to the nonimprinted beads. The decrease in serum iron level accompanied a parallel decrease in the hemoglobin level. The calcium level was also affected upon contact with the beads. The Fe³⁺ imprinted beads were less effective than the nonimprinted ones in decreasing the calcium level indicating selectivity towards iron containing species. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Ion imprinted beads embedded cryogels for in vitro removal of iron from β-thalassemic human plasma

Molecular recognition based Fe³⁺ imprinted poly(GMA-MAC) (MIP) beads embedded PHEMA composite cryogel was prepared for selective removal of Fe³⁺ ions from β-thalassemia patient plasma. The precomplexation was achieved by the coordination of Fe³⁺ ions with N-methacryloyl-(L )-cysteine methyl ester (MAC-Fe³⁺). MIP beads were prepared by dispersion polymerization in the presence of MAC-Fe³⁺ complex and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) monomer. Then the MIP beads were embedded into poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel. The specific surface area and the swelling degree of the PHEMA-MIP composite cryogel were found to be 76.8 m²/g and 7.7 g H₂O/g cryogel, respectively. The maximum adsorption amount of Fe³⁺ ions was 2.23 mg/g. The relative selectivity of PHEMA-MIP composite cryogel towards the Fe³⁺ ions was 135.0, 61.4, and 57.0 times greater than that of the PHEMA-NIP cryogel as compared with the Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe²⁺ ions, respectively. PHEMA-MIP composite cryogel was recovered and reused many times without any significant decrease in its adsorption capacity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Spectral Characteristics and Analytical Applications of Polymer–Metal Complexes0255Derived from Poly(salicylaldehyde acrylate)–Divinylbenzene Semicarbazone Resins

Salicylaldehyde acrylate was prepared and subjected to suspension polymerization with divinylbenzene as a cross-linking agent. The resulting network polymer was ligated with semicarbazone. The ligated polymer was treated with transition metal ions (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺). The polymer–metal complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹³C and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ¹³C cross-polymerization magic-angle spinning NMR, magnetic studies, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Metal uptake efficiency, reusability of the purified ligated polymer, and catalytic effects of this resin on simple ester hydrolysis were also studied. © of SCI.     

Molecularly imprinted fluorescent polymers as chemosensors for the detection of mercury ions in aqueous media

This article describes the investigation of molecularly imprinted fluorescent polymer membranes as sensing receptors for Hg²⁺ detection by an optical approach. The polymers were synthesized with 4‐vinylpyridine as a functional monomer and Hg²⁺ as a template; 9‐vinylcarbazole was used as both a complex‐forming agent and a fluorescence probe. The free‐radical polymerization was performed within a semicylindrical Teflon mold and was initiated by 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile at 60°C. The template, ion‐bonded to pyridine and carbazole groups in the polymer membrane, was removed by acid treatment. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements and scanning electron microscopy images were used to compare the chemistry and surface morphology, respectively, of both imprinted and nonimprinted polymer materials. The final polymer membranes with semicylindrical shapes were used directly to determine Hg²⁺ concentration in aqueous solutions by the monitoring of the fluorescence intensity of the carbazole groups quenched upon complex formation with metal ions. The values of the Hg²⁺ binding ratio for the imprinted and nonimprinted polymeric membranes were compared, and the results indicate the superior sensitivity and selectivity of the imprinted membranes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis,characterization, metal sorption,and biological activity of poly(N‐heterocylic acrylamide)

N‐heterocyclic acrylamide monomers were prepared and then transferred to the corresponding polymers to be used as an efficient chelating agent. Polymers reacted with metal nitrate salts (Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺_, Mg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺_, Fe²⁺) at 150°C to give metal‐polymer complexes. The selectivity of the metal ions using prepared polymers from an aqueous mixture containing different metal ion sreflected that the polymer having thiazolyl moiety more selective than that containing imidazolyl or pyridinyl moieties. Ion selectivity of poly[N‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)acrylamide] showed higher selectivity to many ions e.g. Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺. While, that of poly[N‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)acrylamide] is found to be high selective to Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ only. Energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements, morphology of the polymers and their metallopolymer complexes, thermal analysis and antimicrobial activity were studied. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42712.     

Preparation and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer of bovine serum albumin

Molecularly imprinted polymer beads of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were prepared via inverse phase suspension polymerization, using BSA as the template molecule, a combination of acrylamide and methacrylic acid (MAA) as double functional monomers, and N, N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as the crosslinker. The effect of different monomer ratios and degrees of crosslinking were investigated. When both selectivity and physical properties of the resultant polymer beads were taken into account, the ratio of MAA in the total monomers was chosen at 40% (m/m) and the degree of crosslinking at 30% (n/n), the resultant polymer beads had good selectivity (α = 2.77) and good physical properties. The effects of pH and temperature were studied. It turned out that the functionalization of polymers of BSA prepared via inverse‐phase suspension polymerization exhibited specific recognition for BSA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Investigation of synthetic lipase and its use in transesterification reactions

A novel synthetic polymer selective for p-nitrophenylpalmitate was synthesized by molecular imprinting technique. We have combined the principle of molecular imprinting with the ability of histidine, glutamic acid and serine to form a catalytic cavity that can promote the catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenyl palmitate.For the creation of such catalytic sites we first synthesized appropriate monomers and used p-nitrophenyl palmitate as a template to synthesize the imprinted polymers and the binding characteristics of the polymers were evaluated. The optimum pH was determined by evaluating different pH values and the hydrolytic activity of synthetic lipase was evaluated in the framework of Micheaelis–Menten kinetics. In addition, the values of maximal rate: Vm (0.68 mM/min) and Michaelis–Menten constant, Km (1.4 × 10^?2 mM) were obtained from Lineweaver–Burk plots for the imprinted polymeric catalyst.     

Recognition property and preparation of Staphylococcus aureus protein A-imprinted polyacrylamide polymers by inverse-phase suspension and bulk polymerization

Staphylococcus aureus protein A-imprinted polyacrylamide gel beads (SpA-IPGB) and imprinted polyacrylamide particles (SpA-IPGP) were synthesized by inverse-phase suspension polymerization and bulk polymerization, using SpA as template, acrylamide (AM) as functional monomers. Recognition capacity studies of the prepared SpA-IPGB and SpA-IPGP on SpA and S. aureus were conducted to determine recognition specificity. Computer imitation docking studies were conducted between template proteins and acrylamide monomer to reveal the recognition mechanism of SpA molecularly imprinted polymer. The results showed that the imprinted gel beads had high adsorption capacity and specificity to the SpA and S. aureus, and the adsorption quantity could reach 6.85 × 10⁻³ μmol/g and 10³-10⁴ CFU/g. The adsorption capacities of SpA-IPGB on SpA and S. aureus were higher than that of SpA-IPGP and Non-imprinted polyacrylamide gel beads (Non-IPGB). The recognition specificity of SpA-IPGB and SpA-IPGP on S. aureus was much higher than on Escherichia coli and Streptococcus thermophilus. The formation of complementary shape, and hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions between the imprinting cavities and the template proteins is the driving force for effective and specific recognition of protein imprinted polymer.     

Nickel(II)‐imprinted monolithic columns for selective nickel recognition

Ni²⁺‐imprinted monolithic column was prepared for the removal of nickel ions from aqueous solutions. N‐Methacryloyl‐L ‐histidine was used as a complexing monomer for Ni²⁺ ions in the preparation of the Ni²⁺‐imprinted monolithic column. The Ni²⁺‐imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐N‐methacryloyl‐L ‐histidine) (PHEMAH) monolithic column was synthesized by bulk polymerization. The template ion (Ni²⁺) was removed with a 4‐(2‐pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR):NH₃? NH₄Cl solution. The water‐uptake ratio of the PHEMAH–Ni²⁺ monolith increased compared with PHEMAH because of the formation of nickel‐ion cavities in the polymer structure. The adsorption of Ni²⁺ ions on both the PHEMAH–Ni²⁺ and PHEMAH monoliths were studied. The maximum adsorption capacity was 0.211 mg/g for the PHEMAH–Ni²⁺ monolith. Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions were used as competitive species in the selectivity experiments. The PHEMAH–Ni²⁺ monolithic column was 268.8, 25.5, and 10.4 times more selective than the PHEMAH monolithic column for the Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions, respectively. The PHEMAH–Ni²⁺ monolithic column could be used repeatedly without a decrease in the Ni²⁺ adsorption capacity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

4-Chlorosalicylic acid-formaldehyde polymer as a polymeric ligand

Poly(4-chlorosalicylic acid-formaldehyde) was prepared by condensing 4-chlorosalicylic acid with formaldehyde in presence of various acidic catalysts using different molar proportions of the two reactants. The polymer samples were characterized by IR spectra, their M _n determined by vapour pressure osmometry and also by nonaqueous titration and by TGA. Viscosity measurements of selected polymer samples in DMF and 1,4-dioxane showed that solutions exhibited polyelectrolyte behaviour. Intrinsic viscosities of all the polymer samples were measured in 80:20 (v/v) DMF/water containing 1% (w/v) KBr, a medium in which these polymers exhibited normal behaviour. Polymeric metal chelates of Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, and UO with the polymer were prepared and characterized. Chelation and ion-exchanging properties of the polymers were also studied by employing the batch equilibration method.     

Evaluation of a new water‐compatible hybrid molecularly imprinted polymer combined with restricted access for the selective recognition of folic acid in binding assays

This article deals with the synthesis of an organic?inorganic hybrid molecularly imprinted poly(methacrylic acid‐trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate)/SiO₂ combined with restricted access. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and textural data were used to characterize the structure of material. Higher selectivity was obtained for the molecularly imprinted polymer with restricted access when compared to nonimprinted polymer with restricted access, confirming the imprinting effect. The folic acid sorption for the polymers molecularly imprinted with restricted access, nonimprinted with restricted access, and molecularly imprinted, exhibited the following values of 5.6, 4.5, and 4.8 mg g^?1, respectively. Kinetic experimental data were very well adjusted to Elovich and pseudo‐second‐order models, which suggest that the sorption of folic acid takes place in binding sites with different energies. The obtained values of enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of ?12.79 kJ mol^?1, ?36.38 K^?1 J mol^?1, and ?1.76 kJ mol^?1, respectively, showed that the sorption of folic acid onto molecularly imprinted polymer combined with restricted access occurs spontaneously, is of both exothermic and of physical nature with an increase of ordering at the solid?solution interface. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43463.     

Synthesis and heavy metal ion adsorptivity of macroreticular chelating resins containing phosphono and carboxylic acid groups

Macroreticular copolymer beads were prepared by suspension polymerization of 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC), divinylbenzene (DVB) and monomers with carboxylic ester groups like dibutyl maleate (DBM), dibutyl fumarate (DBF) and dibutyl itaconate (DBI) in the presence of toluene as diluent. The copolymer beads were phosphorylated at the chloromethylated phenyl rings with triethyl phosphite and hydrolyzed by an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution; the hydrolysis on the bead surface converted carboxylic ester/phosphonate groups into carboxylic acid/phosphono groups, respectively. The investigations on the metal ion chelation characteristics of the H-form copolymer beads revealed that they have good adsorptivity toward heavy metal ions like Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺, and poor adsorptivity toward ions like Hg²⁺ and UO₂²⁺. The adsorptivity caused by the three carboxylic ester monomer derivatives was in the order DBM > DBI > DBF. Especially, the Na-form copolymer beads neutralized by alkali treatment were very available for the adsorption of all the metal ions under investigation.     

Molecularly imprinted nanoparticles prepared by core‐shell emulsion polymerization

Submicron core‐shell polymer particles, with molecularly imprinted shells, were prepared by a two‐stage polymerization process. Particles of this type, prepared with a cholesterol‐imprinted ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate shell and in the absence of porogen, were found to be 76 nm in diameter with a surface area of 82 m² g⁻¹. Cholesterol uptake from a 1 mM solution in isohexane was measured at both 10 and 30 mg mL⁻¹, with the imprinted polymer showing considerable binding (up to 57%). Imprinted but not hydrolyzed and hydrolyzed nonimprinted polymers showed very low uptakes (≤4.5%) and a phenol‐imprinted polymer showed reduced binding (36%) under the same conditions. Imprinted shells were also prepared over superparamagnetic polymer cores and over magnetite ferrocolloid alone. The cholesterol binding to magnetic particles was very similar to that of equivalent nonmagnetic materials. Magnetic particles could be sedimented in as little as 30 s in a magnetic field. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1851–1859, 2000     

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