Abstract

New water-soluble metal-polymers of poly (acrylic acid)s (AA) with different amounts of tin (3, 5, 10, and 20 wt %) were synthesized and characterized. The materials were characterized by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific area by isotherm of CO 2, and thermogravimetry-differential scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC). The synthesized material is crystalline and shows an average crystal size 90-130 nm and has a high thermal stability (>200°C). Texturally, they are complexes of small specific area, which decreases when the crystal size increases with the tin content. Presumably, the Sn(II) ions coordinate through 2-4 carboxylate groups by a conventionally bidentate structure; however, they are not symmetric. Studies have been dedicated to support of tin in polymers to increase its efficiency in eliminating pollutants. The tin-metal salt is added to the poly(AA) matrix to increase its ability to remove As(III) from an aqueous solution. The liquidphase polymer-based retention technique is applied to retain and separate contaminants from water. The analysis of As(III) and As(V) species was made by combining liquid high-resolution chromatographic coupled to hydride generation absorption atomic spectrophotometer (HPLC-HG-AAS). All indicated that As(III) was the predominant species bound to the polymer complex for the pH range 4-8. The polymers containing 10 and 20 wt % Sn presented the highest retention of 70 and 90% As(III), respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.