Synthesis of azo‐functionalized ion‐imprinted polymeric resin for selective extraction of nickel(II) ions

The work presented involved the fabrication and evaluation of an ion‐imprinted azo‐functionalized phenolic resin for selective extraction of Ni²⁺ ions from aqueous media. The azo‐containing ligand was first synthesized by coupling of a p‐aminophenol diazonium salt with resorcinol. The ligand was coordinated with Ni²⁺ ion template before condensation polymerization with formaldehyde and resorcinol was performed. The Ni²⁺ ions were extracted from the crosslinked resin matrix to finally afford the Ni²⁺ ion‐imprinted Ni‐PARF adsorbent. The synthetic steps were extensively investigated using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared, NMR and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopies. Also, the surface morphologies along with the surface areas of the adsorbent resin were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller techniques, respectively. Batch experiments indicated that the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic equation provided the best fit with the experimentally obtained kinetic data and equilibrium was reached after 40 min. The isotherm studies were also in a good fit with the Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacities of Ni²⁺ ions with respect to both Ni‐PARF and control non‐imprinted C‐PARF adsorbents were around 260 and 100 mg g^?1, respectively. In the presence of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ as competing coexisting ions, the relative selectivity coefficients of Ni‐PARF for Ni²⁺ were, respectively, 84.91, 44.97, 30.41 and 32.20. Regeneration experiments indicated that after eight adsorption/desorption cycles, the Ni‐PARF adsorbent still maintained around 97% of its initial efficiency. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry