Abstract

The maximum retention capacity (MRC), at different pH and polymer-metal ion ratio, of a water-soluble polymer containing a strong acid group was determined. The metal ions investigated were: Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cr(III). There was an important effect of the pH on the MRC. The MRC values of the divalent metal ions were very similar and higher than that for the trivalent cation, would indicate that the polymer-metal ion interaction was basically through electrostatic type