Arsenite retention properties of water‐soluble metal–polymers

The properties of water‐soluble metal–polymers to retain As(III) from aqueous solution are investigated. Poly(acrylic acid)s with different tin contents are prepared. Amounts of 3, 5, 10, and 20 wt % of tin are added to the polymer. The metal compositions are evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG‐DSC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Structural properties are analyzed by infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. Additionally, specific surface area was measured using CO₂ as adsorbate. Arsenic retention properties are studied using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) technique. The polymers can bind arsenic species from an aqueous solution in the pH range 4–8. The studies show that the retention capacity is a function of tin content and polymer concentration. At pH 8, the following mol ratios poly(AA)‐Sn : As(III) are analyzed: 600 : 1, 400 : 1, 200 : 1, 100 : 1, and 20 : 1. The highest retention, 80%, is obtained with poly(AA)‐Sn at 10 and 20 wt % of tin at mole ratios 400 : 1, and at nearly to 20 : 1 or 40 : 1 Sn‐As(III). The highest retention is observed at pH 8 and 4. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Novel water‐soluble acryloylmorpholine copolymers: Synthesis,characterization, and metal ion binding properties

Poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine), poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine‐co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid), and poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid) were synthesized by radical polymerization. The water‐soluble polymers obtained, containing tertiary amino, amide, and sulfonic acid groups, were investigated, in view of their metal binding properties, as polychelatogens by using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique, under different experimental conditions. The metal ions investigated were Ag(I), Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Cr(III), and Al(III). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 180–185, 2006     

Water‐soluble amine and imine polymers with the ability to bind metal ions in conjunction with membrane filtration

The commercial polymers poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), poly(ethylene imine epichlorohydrin), and poly(dimethylamine‐co‐epichlorohydrin) were purified and fractionated by ultrafiltration. Their metal‐ion‐binding properties with respect to different ligand groups and the effect of the concentration on the retention properties were investigated. The amine ligands of the polymers formed the most stable complexes with the metal ions. In general, there was an effect of the pH and polymer fraction size on the retention properties. As the pH and polymer fraction size increased, the affinity to bind metal ions also increased. PEI had the highest metal‐retention values, particularly at higher pHs, at which the amine groups were nonprotonated and could coordinate easily with the metal ions. Only Pb(II) was poorly retained. The affinity for all the metal ions, except Pb(II), increased significantly at pH 5. The metal‐ion retention decreased quickly as the filtration factor increased, except for Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) ions, which were retained by over 40% at a filtration factor of 4. For other metal ions such as Pb(II), Ca(II), and Mg(II), only 10% remained bound to the polymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 222–231, 2005     

Synthesis of oxadiazole‐based polymers containing a carbazole–vinylene or fluorene–vinylene group and their hole‐injection/transport behavior in light‐emitting diodes

A series of conjugated (poly{N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3,6‐carbazole–vinylene‐alt‐[(2,5‐bisphenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole]}) and nonconjugated (poly{N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3,6‐carbazole–vinylene‐alt‐[(2,5‐bisphenol)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole]}) and poly{9,9‐dihexyl‐2,7‐fluorene–vinylene‐alt‐[(2,5‐bisphenol)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole]}) polymers containing oxadiazole and carbazole or fluorene moieties in the polymer backbone were synthesized with a multiple‐step procedure. The properties of the polymers, including the photophysical and electrochemical characteristics, could be fine‐tuned by adjustment of the components or structures in the polymer chains. The polymers were used to examine the hole‐injection/transport behavior as hole‐injection/hole‐transport layers in double‐layer indium tin oxide (ITO)/polymer/aluminum tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline)/LiF/Al devices by the determination of their energy levels. The effects of the polymers in these devices on the charge‐transport behavior were compared with a control device fabricated with poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)–poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). Devices containing the synthesized polymers showed comparable adhesion to the ITO anode and good hole‐injection/transport performance. In addition, they exhibited higher electroluminescence over an identical range of current densities than the control device. This was attributed to the prevention of radiative exciton quenching caused by the PEDOT–PSS interfaces and the improvement of electron/exciton blocking due to the higher electron affinity of the synthesized polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis,characterization, and metal complexation of poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylic acid) and poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylamide) as polychelatogens in aqueous solution

We carried out the free‐radical copolymerization of N‐phenylmaleimide with acrylic acid and acrylamide with an equimolar feed monomer ratio. We carried out the synthesis of the copolymers in dioxane at 70°C with benzoyl peroxide as the initiator and a total monomer concentration of 2.5M. The copolymer compositions were obtained by elemental analysis and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The hydrophilic polymers were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Additionally, viscosimetric measurements of the copolymers were performed. Hydrophilic poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylic acid) and poly(N‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐acrylamide) were used for the separation of a series of metal ions in the aqueous phase with the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention method in the heterogeneous phase. The method is based on the retention of inorganic ions by the polymer in conjunction with membrane filtration and subsequent separation of low‐molecular‐mass species from the formed polymer/metal‐ion complex. The polymer could bind several metal ions, such as Cr(III), Co (II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), and Fe(III) inorganic ions, in aqueous solution at pH values of 3, 5, and 7. The interaction of the inorganic ions with the hydrophilic polymer was determined as a function of pH and a filtration factor. Hydrophilic polymeric reagents with strong metal‐complexing properties were synthesized and used to separate those complexed from noncomplexed ions in the heterogeneous phase. The polymers exhibited a high retention capability at pH values of 5 and 7. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Water‐soluble copolymers of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and acrylamide derivatives: synthesis,characterization, and metal binding capability studied by liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique

Radical copolymerizations of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone with acrylamide and N,N′‐dimethylacrylamide at different feed ratios were investigated. The copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The copolymer composition was determined from the ¹H NMR spectra and found to be statistical. The metal complexation of poly(acrylamide‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) and poly(N,N′‐dimethylacrylamide‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) for the metal ions Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Fe(III), and Cr(III) were investigated in an aqueous phase. The liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention method is based on the retention of inorganic ions by soluble polymers in a membrane filtration cell and subsequent separation of low‐molecular compounds from the polymer complex formed. The metal ion interaction with the hydrophilic polymers was determined as a function of the pH and the filtration factor. Poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) showed a higher affinity for the metal ions than poly(acrylamide‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone). According to the interaction pattern obtained, Cr(III) and Cu(II) formed the most stable complexes at pH 7. Pb(II) and Zn(II) were not retained. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 741–750, 1999     

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     

Thermal properties of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐acrylic acid) in the presence of certain metal chlorides

Polychelates were synthesized by the addition of aqueous solutions of copper(II), cadmium(II), and nickel(II) chlorides to aqueous solutions of poly(maleic anhydride‐alt‐acrylic acid) [poly(MA‐alt‐AA)] in different pH media. The thermal properties of poly(MA‐alt‐AA) and its metal complexes were investigated with thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The polychelates showed higher thermal stability than poly(MA‐alt‐AA). The thermogravimetry of the polymer–metal complexes revealed variations of the thermal stability by complexation with metal ions. The relative thermal stabilities of the systems under investigation were as follows: poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Cd(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Cu(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA)–Ni(II) > poly(MA‐alt‐AA). The effects of pH on the complexation and gravimetric analysis of the polychelates were also studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3926–3930, 2006     

Novel mucoadhesive polymer: Synthesis and mucoadhesion of poly[acrylic acid‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether monomethacrylate‐co‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate]

This study was to design a mucoadhesive based on the biological and physicochemical properties of the buccal mucosa to achieve optimal mucoadhesion in the aqueous buccal environment. Since the buccal surface is negatively charged, a series of novel mucoadhesive poly[acrylic acid‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol) monomethylether monomethacrylate‐co‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate] [poly (AA‐PEGMM‐DMEMA)] were synthesized by incorporating the cationic monomer DMEMA into poly(AA‐PEGMM) to enhance the interactions between the mucohadhesive polymer and the buccal mucosa. The compositions of poly(AA‐PEGMM‐DMEMA) were varied by changing the content of DMEMA from 0 to 4.8 mol % while keeping the mole ratio of AA to PEGMM at a constant 9 : 1. It was found that the force of mucoadhesion of poly(AA‐PEGMM‐DMEMA) increased initially, as DMEMA content increased, and reached the maximum at 1% of DMEMA. Further increasing the content of DMEMA decreased the mucoadhesion. The polymers with 0.5 to 2.9% DMEMA appeared to have maximum mucoadhesion after prehydration for 5 min. An ATR–FTIR spectroscopy study revealed that intrapolymer interactions and intersurface interactions played opposite roles in the mucoadhesion performance of the polymers. Optimal mucoadhesion can be achieved by balancing these two interactions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94:2431–2437, 2004     

Retention properties of arsenate anions of water‐soluble polymers by a liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique

The retention properties of arsenic ions from an aqueous solution by water‐soluble cationic polymers and cationic–anionic copolymers were investigated. Poly[(3‐methacryloylamine)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride [P(ClMPTA)] and poly[(3‐methacryloylamine)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride–co–acrylic acid [P(ClMPTA‐co‐AA] were synthesized by radical polymerization. The copolymers were prepared with feed mole ratios of ClMPTA to AA of 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1. The copolymer compositions were evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy, TG‐DSC, and elemental analysis. The liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) technique was used. This technique consists of retention of arsenate anions by the quaternary ammonium salt of a water‐soluble polymer in a filtration membrane cell. It was shown that the polymers could bind H₂AsO species from an aqueous solution more selectively at pHs of 6 and 8, than at a pH of 4. An increase in the polymer concentration was associated with increased retention capacity but not linearly. At the highest concentration the influence of pH was better observed. Investigation of copolymers showed the concerted action of polycations and polyanions on the ability to retain arsenic. At the lowest pH, the role of ionic strength of the media had a remarkable effect on the retention ability, independently of copolymer composition. At a pH of 6 a copolymer polycation/polyanion composition of 2 : 1 had the highest selective effect. At a pH of 8, a nonequimolar copolymer composition showed the same efficiency for the retention of arsenate species. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2677–2684, 2006     

Synthesis of water‐insoluble functional copolymers containing amide,amine, and carboxylic acid groups and their metal‐ion‐uptake properties

The crosslinked poly[N‐(3‐dimethylamino)propylmethacrylamide] [P(NDAPA)] and poly[N‐(3‐dimethylamino)propylmethacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid] [P(NDAPA‐co‐AA)] were synthesized by radical polymerization. The resins were completely insoluble in water. The metal‐ion‐uptake properties were studied by a batch equilibrium procedure for the following metal ions: silver(I), copper(II), cadmium(II), zinc(II), lead(II), mercury(II), chromium(III), and aluminum(III). The P(NDAPA‐co‐AA) resin showed a lower metal‐ion affinity than P(NDAPA), except for Hg(II), which was retained at 71% at pH 2. At pH 5, the resin showed a higher affinity for Pb(II) (80%) and Cu(II) (60%), but its affinity was very low for Zn(II) and Cr(III). The polymer ligand–metal‐ion equilibrium was achieved during the first 20 min. By changing the pH, we found it possible to remove between 60 and 70% of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions with (1M, 4M) HClO₄ and (1M, 4M) HNO₃. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:5232–5239, 2006     

Utilization of starch and montmorrilonite for the preparation of superabsorbent nanocomposite

Starch and montmorrilonite (MMT) were used as raw materials for synthesizing starch‐graft‐poly[acrylamide (AM)–acrylic acid (AA)]/MMT superabsorbent nanocomposite by graft and intercalation copolymerization reaction of starch, AM, and AA in the presence of organic MMT micropowder in aqueous solution. Major factors affecting water absorbency such as weight ratio of monomers to starch, weight ratio of AM to AA, neutralization degree of AA, amount of crosslinker, initiator, and MMT were investigated. The superabsorbent nanocomposite synthesized under optimal synthesis conditions exhibits absorption of 1120 g H₂O/g sample and 128 g H₂O/g sample in deionized water and in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution, respectively. IR spectra showed that the graft copolymerization between  OH groups on MMT and monomers took place during the reaction, and that crystal interlayer was pulled open in the superabsorbent nanocomposite. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystal interlayer of MMT was pulled open to 2.73 nm, and thus formed nanometer exfoliation composite material. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that starch‐graft‐poly (AM–AA) superabsorbent nanocomposite (8 wt % MMT) has good thermal stability. This superabsorbent nanocomposite with excellent water absorbency and water retention, being biodegradable in nature, economical and environment friendly, could be especially useful in industry, agricultural, and horticultural applications. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Synthesis,characterization and polychelatogenic properties of poly[(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid)‐co‐(methacrylic acid)]

Poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), and five copolymers of poly[(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid)‐co‐(methacrylic acid)] were synthesized by radical polymerization and obtained in yields >97%. The polymers were characterized by FT‐IR, [¹H]NMR, and [¹³C]NMR and studied by means of the Liquid‐phase Polymer‐based Retention (LPR) technique. The metal ion retention ability of the copolymers for Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cr(III) and Ag(I) was investigated at different pH values because of their environmental and analytical interest. The retention profiles of the copolymers were compared with those of the corresponding homopolymers and retention of metal ions was found to increase with increasing pH. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis of biodegradable amino‐acid‐based poly(ester amide)s and poly(ether ester amide)s with pendant functional groups

A new family of biodegradable amino‐acid‐based poly(ester amide)s (AA–PEAs) and amino‐acid‐based poly(ether ester amide)s (AA–PEEAs) consisting of reactive pendant functional groups (? COOH or ? NH₂) were synthesized from unsaturated AA–PEAs and AA–PEEAs via a thiol–ene reaction in the presence of a radical initiator (2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile). The synthetic method was a one‐step reaction with near 100% yields under mild reaction conditions. The resulting functional AA–PEA and AA–PEEA polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. These new functional AA–PEA and AA–PEEA derivatives had lower glass‐transition temperatures than the original unsaturated AA–PEA and AA–PEEA polymers, and their solubility in some organic solvents also improved. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(urethane‐ether)s from calcium salt of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid

The synthesis and characterization of calcium‐containing poly(urethane‐ether)s, having ionic links in the main chain, is reported. Calcium salt of p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA‐Ca) was prepared from p‐hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and used as the chain extender in the preparation of calcium‐containing poly(urethane‐ether)s. Poly(urethane‐ether)s, having two different compositions, were prepared by varying the mole ratios of poly(tetramethylene glycol), hexamethylene diisocyanate, and HBA‐Ca. The synthesized poly(urethane‐ether)s were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The presence of calcium in the polymer chain was confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. The inherent viscosity of metal‐containing polymers decreased with the increase in the metal content of the polymer. The introduction of metal into the polymer lowers the thermal stability of the polymers as indicated by the decreased initial decomposition temperature. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the storage modulus of the metal‐containing polymers increase with the increase in metal content presumably due to the formation of physical crosslink's in the polymer. From the mechanical studies of the polymer, it was observed that the metal‐containing polymers exhibit high tensile strength and modulus. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011.     

Part 8. Preparation,characterization and metal complexing of poly[(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐DL‐aspartamide] in aqueous solution

Poly[(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐DL ‐aspartamide] was synthesized by polyreaction of aspartic acid and subsequent polymer‐analogous functionalization with ethanolamine. The water‐soluble polymer was characterized by FTIR, NMR, TGA and light‐scattering measurements. The metal complexing properties of the polymer were studied for Cr(III), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Sr(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions in aqueous solution using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention (LPR) method. According to the retention profiles of LPR, Cr(III), Fe(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) showed a strong interaction with this polymer under these conditions, indicated by retention values of about 100 %. In contrast, Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Sr(II) and Cd(II) exhibited retention values of only 50–60 % in dilute solution at pH 5. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of Fe(III) ions from dilute aqueous solutions by alginic acid‐enhanced ultrafiltration

The removal of Fe(III) ions from aqueous solutions was studied using membrane filtration. A water‐soluble polymer alginic acid (AA) was used to bind the metal ions, which was followed by batch ultrafiltration using poly(methyl methacrylate‐methacrylic acid) membranes modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PMMA‐MA‐PEG). The complexation behavior of AA and the effect pH on the rejection of iron were investigated. Maximum recovery of 87.13% was obtained when the filtration was carried out in the presence of AA at pH 3.1. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 1096–1101, 2000     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of new blue‐light‐emitting polyconjugated poly{1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene} polymers and copolymers

Three new soluble polyconjugated polymers, all of which emitted blue light in photoluminescence and electroluminescence, were synthesized, and their luminescence properties were studied. The polymers were poly{1,1′‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene}, poly((9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐{1,4‐phenylene‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)vinylene‐1,4‐phenylene]}) [P(DOF‐PVP)], and poly([N‐(2‐ethyl) hexylcarbazole‐3,6‐diyl]‐alt‐{1,4‐phenylene‐[1‐(4‐t‐butylphenyl)]vinylene‐1,4‐phenylene}). The last two polymers had alternating sequences of the two structural units. Among the three polymers, P(DOF‐PVP) performed best in the light‐emitting diode devices of indium–tin oxide/poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (30 nm)/polymer (150 nm)/Li:Al (100 nm). This might have been correlated with the balance in and magnitude of the mobility of the charge carriers, that is, positive holes and electrons, and also the electronic structure, that is, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels, of the polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 307–317, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of amine‐functionalized amphiphilic block copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(caprolactone)

A series of amine‐functionalized block copolymers, poly(caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL‐b‐PEG), were synthesized by ring‐opening bulk polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) initiated through the hydroxyl end of the amino poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) used as a macroinitiator in the presence of stannous 2‐ethylhexonoate [Sn(Oct)₂]. The polymerization and end functionality of the polymer were studied by different physicochemical techniques (¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis). Thermal, crystalline and mechanical properties of the polymer were thoroughly analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometry and tensile testing, respectively. The results showed a linear improvement in crystallinity and mechanical properties of the polymer with the content of PEG. Thus the synthesized functional polymers can be used as excellent biomaterials for the delivery of polyanions, as well as macroinitiators for the synthesis of A–B–C‐type block copolymers. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation,characterization, and metal ion retention capacity of Co(II) and Ni(II) from poly(p‐HO‐ and p‐Cl‐phenylmaleimide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropylmethacrylate) using the ultra filtration technique

p‐Chlorophenylmaleimide and p‐hydroxyphenylmaleimide with 2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate were synthesized by radical polymerization, and the metal ion retention capacity and thermal behavior of the copolymers were evaluated. The copolymers were obtained by solution radical polymerization with a 0.50 : 0.50 feed monomer ratio. The maximum retention capacity (MRC) for the removal of two metal ions, Co(II) and Ni(II) in aqueous phase were determined using the liquid‐phase polymer based retention technique. Inorganic ion interactions with the hydrophilic polymer were determined as a function of pH. The metal ion retention capacity does not depend strongly on the pH. Metal ion retention increased with an increase of pH for a copolymer composition 0.50 : 0.50. At different pH, the MRC of the poly(p‐chlorophenylmaleimide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropylmethacrylate) for Co(II) and Ni(II) ions varied from 44.1 to 48.6 mg/g and from 41.5 mg/g to 46.0 mg/g, respectively; while the MRC of poly(p‐hydroxyphenylmaleimide‐co‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) for Co(II) and Ni(II) ions varied from 28.4 to 35.6 mg/g and from 27.2 to 30.8 mg/g, respectively. The copolymers and copolymer–metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and thermal behavior. The thermal behavior of the copolymer and polymer–metal complexes were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry techniques under nitrogen atmosphere. The thermal decomposition temperature and T_g were influenced by the binding‐metal ion on the copolymer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007