Adsorption behaviour and separation of copper(II) ions on cellulose triacetate polymer containing α-hydroxy oxime compounds

Abstract

A series of α-hydroxy oxime compounds was synthesized and characterized. A new type of adsorbent, cellulose triacetate (TAC) powder (20–60 mesh) containing five kinds of α-oxime compounds such as α-benzoin oxime and 2-hydroxyphenyl ethyl ketone oxime (HPEKO), was prepared by dissolving cellulose triacetate with α-oxime in dichloromethane and pouring the mixture into hot water. The adsorption behaviour with α-oxime—TAC powders was examined for seven metal ions from solution of pH 2–10. Copper(II) was quantitatively retained on the HPEKO—TAC in the pH range 4–10 in batch experiments, whereas negligible adsorption was obtained for cobalt(II), iron(III) and iron(II); palladium(II) was also quantitatively adsorbed. The retention capacity of copper(II) and nickel(II) on the loaded adsorbent was about 1.4 and 1.1 mg g −1 at pH 5.9 and 8.1, respectively. Copper(II) retained on the column was completely eluted with 50 cm 3 of 0.25 mol dm −3 hydrochloric acid, and separated from nickel(II) and iron(III).