Ion Imprinted Polymer Solid Phase Extraction (IIP‐SPE) for Preconcentrative Separation of Erbium(III) From Adjacent Lanthanides and Yttrium

Abstract

Abstract Erbium(III) ion imprinted polymer (IIP) materials were prepared by photochemical polymerization of the ternary complex, Erbium(III)—5,7‐dichloroquinoline‐8‐ol‐4‐vinylpyridine, with methyl methacrylate (functional monomer) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (crosslinking monomer) in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator). The synthesis was carried out in 2‐methoxy ethanol (porogen) medium and the resultant material was filtered, dried and powdered to form unleached polymer particles. The imprint ion (erbium(III)) was removed by stirring the above particles with 6 mol/l HCl to obtain leached polymer particles. These leached particles are termed erbium(III) ion imprinted polymer (IIP) particles as it selectively rebind erbium(III) ions. Non‐imprinted/control polymer (CP) particles were similarly prepared without the imprint ion. CP and unleached and leached IIP particles were characterized by XRD, microanalysis, and UV‐visible spectrophotometric studies. Various parameters that infl...