Abstract

Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), and five copolymers of poly[(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)-co-(methacrylic acid)] were synthesized by radical polymerization and obtained in yields >97%. The polymers were characterized by FT-IR, [1H]NMR, and [13C]NMR and studied by means of the Liquid-phase Polymer-based Retention (LPR) technique. The metal ion retention ability of the copolymers for Cu(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cr(III) and Ag(I) was investigated at different pH values because of their environmental and analytical interest. The retention profiles of the copolymers were compared with those of the corresponding homopolymers and retention of metal ions was found to increase with increasing pH. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.