Ion imprinted polymer particles of neodymium: synthesis, characterization and selective recognition

Neodymium ion imprinted polymer (Nd3+-IIP) particles for selective solid-phase extraction of Nd3+ were prepared and determined with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The unleached Nd3+-IIP particles were prepared by the copolymerization of Nd3+-5,7-dichloroquinoline-8-ol-4-vinylpyridine ternary complex with styrene and divinyl benzene, then Nd3+ was leached to obtain Nd3+-IIP particles. The adsorption capacity of the Nd3+-IIP was 35.18 mg/g. The largest selectivity coefficient for Nd3+ in the presence of competitive ions such as La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+ and Sm3+ was over 110. The proposed method was validated by analyzing two certified reference materials (GBW07301a sediment and GBW07401 soil) and the determined values were in a good agreement with standard values. The method was convenient, selective, sensitive and applicable to the determination of trace Nd3+ in environmental samples with complicated matrix.