Fabrication of a novel hydrophilic ion-imprinted polymer based on silica-modified magnetic graphene oxide as a sensitive sorbent for the fast separation of silver ions from aqueous media

Abstract

This paper aimed to evaluate the co-precipitation preparation of a novel magnetic graphene oxide ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) for the recognition and separation of silver ions in aqueous solutions. The synthesis of this adsorbent was established by thermal copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) as a functional monomer, salen as a ligand, silver ions as a template ion, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the crosslinking agent, acetonitrile and chloroform as the solvents, 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator by coating on the surface of magnetic graphene oxide as a magnetic core. The prepared polymer was morphologically characterized by the use of several characterization techniques. A batch-wise adsorption investigation was carried out to determine favorable conditions for proper adsorption, likewise selectivity and reusability. The kinetics of the adsorption process was pseudo-second order and followed the Langmuir isothermal model. The maximum adsorption capacity was 77.6 ± 0.6 mg g⁻¹ at a pH of 4. The involvement of other competing ions revealed that the adsorbent benefits from the selective property of the imprinted cavities.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Selective adsorption of silver
• magnetic graphene oxide
• ion-imprinted polymer
• kinetics
• isotherms

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

Research data for this article Documentation and methods used to support this study can be provided contacting corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Babol Noshirvani University of Technology (BNUT/370152/401).