Synthesis and Characterization of EDTA Functionalized Polyacrylonitriles and Their Metal Complexes

Novel ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) functionalized polyacrylonitriles (PANs) were synthesized by direct reaction of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dianhydride (A-EDTA) with amine and hydroxyl functionalized polyacrylonitrile. The polymeric products were insoluble in water and common organic solvents and the maximum EDTA functionality was 3.2 mmol/g. The polymer-metal complexes were prepared by dispersing of the EDTA functionalized PANs in aqueous solutions of various metal ions such as Cu+2, Ni+2, Co+2, and Cr+3 when the pH ranged from 1 to 5. The highest and lowest metal sorption were observed for Ni+2 in pH 5 and CO+2 in pH 1 which were 5.2 mmol/g and 1.5 mmol/g, respectively. The SEM micrographs show that there is a drastic variation in morphology of polymer surface when it forms complex with Cu+2. It change from rougher surface to smoother surface