Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Surface

ISSN 2518-1238 (Online), ISSN 2079-1704 (Print)

Sorption materials for rare earth elements based on ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and methacrylic acid copolymers with different cross-link ratio have been synthesized by ion-imprinting method. Two approaches of ion-imprinted polymers elaboration – chemical immobilization and trapping – have been applied. The obtained materials have been characterized via scanning electron microscopy and IR-spectroscopy. The synthesized polymers exist as aggregates of plate-like particles with slit-shaped pores. The specific surface area of obtained sorbents varies from 109 to 350 m²/g. Sorption performance of synthesized polymers towards rare earth ions as well as its dependence on cross-link ratio and ion-imprinting version has been investigated. The sorption materials under study exhibit best sorption efficiency towards rare earth elements in solutions with pH 6. The maximum sorption capacity of the obtained sorbents is around 0.3 mmol/g. According to these results, imprinted polymer with cross-link ratio 80 % synthesized via trapping approach is characterized by the highest distribution coefficient values. The observed tetrad effect for rare earth elements adsorption reflects the chemical nature of adsorption process on the synthesized materials.

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