title: Assessment and modelling of Ni(II) retention by an ion-imprinted polymer: application in natural samples.
abstract: Three novel Ni(II)-Ion-Imprinted Polymer (IIP) were synthesized by precipitation polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (crosslinker) with a complex of nickel(II) and vinylbenzyl iminodiacetic acid (VbIDA). The three IIPs were prepared with various mixtures of porogen solvents: methanol, methanol/2-methoxyethanol and methanol/acetonitrile (IIP1, IIP2 and IIP3, respectively). Non-Imprinted Polymers (NIP1, NIP2 and NIP3) were prepared as control polymers in similar conditions but with pure VbIDA instead of VbIDA-Ni. These polymers were characterized by FTIR, BET, SEM and tested for their efficiency and selectivity in Ni(II) retention. The most efficient (IIP1, around 12 mg g(-1) of nickel) was then positively checked for Ni(II) retention in presence of some competing species over a wide range of concentration. Finally Ni(II) retention by IIP1 was successfully demonstrated in natural samples. The modelling of the different experiments (Langmuir, Freundlich but also PROSECE and WHAM VII, frequently used in environmental studies) allowed demonstrating the presence of completely different binding sites when considering the ion-imprinted polymer and the non-imprinted one, and therefore led to a better understanding of what the imprinting effect is.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, PROTEE, EA 3819, 83957 La Garde, France. Electronic address: lenoble@univ-tln.fr.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lenoble
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, MAPIEM, EA 4323, 83957 La Garde, France.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meouche
authors.affiliation: Lappeenranta University of Technology, Laboratory of Separation Technology, P.O. Box 20, FI-53851 Lappeenranta, Finland.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, PROTEE, EA 3819, 83957 La Garde, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, MAPIEM, EA 4323, 83957 La Garde, France.
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brisset
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, MAPIEM, EA 4323, 83957 La Garde, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margaillan
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulon, MAPIEM, EA 4323, 83957 La Garde, France. Electronic address: branger@univ-tln.fr.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branger
keywords: Ion-imprinted polymer; Modelling; Natural waters; Nickel; Precipitation polymerization