Inorganic mercury sequestration by a poly(ethylene imine) dendrimer in aqueous solution.
The interaction of the G-2 poly(ethylene imine) dendrimer L, derived from ammonia as initiating core, with Hg(II) and HgCl42- was studied in aqueous solution by means of potentiometric (pH-metric) measurements. Speciation of these complex systems showed that L is able to form a wide variety of complexes including 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 3:2 metal-to-ligand species, of different protonation states, as well as the anion complexes [(H7L)HgCl4]5+ and [(H8L)HgCl4]6+. The stability of the metal complexes is very high, making L an excellent sequestering agent for Hg(II), over a large pH range, and a promising ligand for the preparation of functionalized activated carbons to be employed in the remediation and the prevention of environmental problems.
Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain. elena.salvador@uv.es.
Elena Salvador
ES
Serrano
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy. msavastano@unifi.it.
Matteo
M
Savastano
Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy. antonio.bianchi@unifi.it.
Antonio
A
Bianchi
D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011199:Potentiometry
D050091:Dendrimers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007097:Imines; D011095:Polyethylenes; C505405:poly(ethylene imine); D008628:Mercury