Ion-exchange properties of hypercrosslinked polystyrene impregnated with methyl orange

A novel bipolar stationary phase (HCPS–MO) was prepared by impregnation of hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HCPS) with methyl orange (MO; 4-dimethylamino-4′-sulfoazobenzene) and its ion-exchange properties were studied. Simultaneous separation of cations and anions on HCPS–MO is possible, although it behaves preferentially as a cation-exchanger. Unusual selectivity of HCPS-MO for alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations: Na+<Li+∼K+<Rb+<NH4+<Cs+ and Mg2+<Sr2+<Ca2+<Ba2+ was observed. The effect of temperature on retention of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations was studied. Separation of Na+, K+, Rb+, NH4+, Cs+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ on HCPS–MO with diluted cerium(III) nitrate solution as an eluent in single run is presented.