Free radical copolymerization of functional water-soluble poly(N-maleoylglycine-co-crotonic acid): polymer metal ion retention capacity, electrochemical, and thermal behavior

Abstract

In this study, the water-soluble polymers of N-maleoyl glycine (MG) with crotonic acid (CA) were copolymerized by free radical polymerization to obtain hydrophilic polymers, in order to study the effect of the functional groups in the copolymers on the metal ion retention capacity, electrochemical and thermal behavior, since that important requirements for their use in technological applications are: high solubility in water, chemical stability, a high affinity for one or more metal ions, and selectivity for the metal ion of interest. The metal complexation properties of poly(MG-co-CA) for the metal ions were investigated at pH 3, 5, and 7 in aqueous solution. The metal ion investigated were: Cu(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Ni(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Fe(III). The polymeric systems showed high metal ion retention for Zn (II) and Fe(III) at different pH. At different pHs, the MRC of the poly(MG-co-CA) for Fe(III) ions varied from 122.1 to 146.2 mg/g and from 120.5 to 133.5 mg/g, (samples 1 and 2 at pH 3 and 7, respectively). The MRC had the highest retention values for both copolymer systems at pH 7. The copolymers presented higher thermal decomposition temperature (TDT) in comparison with copolymer–metal complexes at pH 3 and 5. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) for poly(MG-co-CA) (20 mM) was compared with the CV of the [poly(MG-co-CA)–Fe(III)] copolymer complex. Moreover, [poly(MG-co-CA)–Fe(III)] showed a redox wave difference between +0.25 and +0.50 V possibly due to the presence of metal complexed with the polymer. The electrochemical characterization of the copolymer poly(MG-co-AC) shown the reduction of carboxylic acid groups of the N-maleoylglycine and crotonic acid moiety to hydroxyl group. The results support the assumption that the copolymer presents convenient electroactivity.