The surface modification of magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron and application in Au(III) adsorption

An improved suspension polymerization method for preparation of the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres (mPMA‐DVB) was investigated. Through subsequent reaction with methyl acrylate (MA) and ethylenediamine (EDA), the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron surface was obtained, and the magnetic poly(methyl acrylate) microspheres with dendron surface reacted with carbon bisulfide and sodium hydroxide to create sodium dithiocarbamate. Following, the resultant magnetic microspheres with dendron surface modification were used to adsorb Au(III) from aqueous solution. The result showed that the capacity of amino groups on the surface of the mPMA microspheres increased from 1.67 mmol/g for the magnetic polymer microspheres with G₀ dendron to 4.35 mmol/g with G₃ dendron, and the adsorption capacity rose from 0.1981 g/g with G₀ dendron to 0.7853 g/g with G₃ dendron. The effects of solution pH, the adsorption temperature, the adsorption time, and the initial concentration of Au(III) on the adsorption of Au(III) were studied, the optimum pH for Au(III) adsorption was found at pH = 1, the adsorption capacity achieved the maximum in 60 min, and the adsorption process was endothermic reaction and conformed to pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. Furthermore, the adsorption process was in accordance with the Langmuir model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012