Abstract
A novel Hg(II) ion‐imprinted resin based on thiourea‐modified melamine was manufactured for selective elimination of Hg2+ from aqueous solutions. The polymerizable thiourea–melamine ligand together with its Hg(II) complex were extensively investigated using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The Hg(II) complex was used in a condensation polymerization in the presence of formaldehyde crosslinker and then the Hg(II) ions were leached out from the crosslinked polymeric network to finally leave the ion‐imprinted Hg‐PMTF resin. Both ion‐imprinted Hg‐PMTF and non‐imprinted resins were examined utilizing scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. The potential of the prepared resin for selective separation of Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions was then evaluated by performing a series of batch experiments. Hg‐PMTF displayed an obvious rapid removal of Hg(II) ions with a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic pattern. In addition, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model exhibited the best fit with the experimental data with comparatively high maximum adsorption capacity (360.5 mg g−1). © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
The synthetic steps involved in the preparation of Hg ion‐imprinted polymer based on a thiourea‐modified melamine–formaldehyde resin.