STUDIES OF MICROENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON COMPLEXATION OF POLYMER-BOUND SCHIFF BASES WITH TRANSITION METAL IONS

ABSTRACT

A new series of chelating resins were prepared by anchoring Schiff base moieties on lightly cross-linked polyacrylamide. The aldehyde precursors for the synthesis of the Schiff bases were prepared by introducing a substituted azobenzene group into the phenolic aldehydes. All of the polymer-bound Schiff bases effectively coordinate metal ions like Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions. The metal ion uptake decreases as the bulkiness of the ligand increases. The pH-dependence of the metal ion uptake was also studied. Tentative geometries are suggested for the complexes from their spectral and magnetic properties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the National Research Foundation (South Africa) and the Royal Society (London) for their support for research work at the University of Zululand.