Studies of selective adsorption resin. XXIV. Preparation and properties of macroreticular chelating resins containing both polyethylenepolyamine side chains and mercapto groups

The macroreticular chelating resins containing both polyethylenepolyamine side chains and mercapto groups were prepared by the reaction of 2,3-epithiopropyl methacrylate-divinylbenzene macroreticular copolymer beads with polyethylene-polyamine. The adsorption behavior of metal ions on the obtained resins was then investigated. The amination of the macroreticular copolymer beads could effectively be carried out by treatment of the polymer beads with polyethylenepolyamine in organic solvent (benzene, terahydrofuran) or in the absence of organic solvent at 80°C or 100°C for 60 min. It was found that the adsorption capacity of the resins for metal ions is not only affected by the ion exchange capacity of the resins but also by the porosity of the resins. Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, and Cu²⁺ were effectively adsorbed on the resins even at a pH below 3, whereas Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cd²⁺ were adsorbed at a pH above 3, Mn²⁺ at a pH above 7, and Ca²⁺ at a pH above 8. These metal ions adsorbed on the resins could easily be eluted with dilute mineral acid solution or dilute mineral acid solution containing thiourea.