Sorption of iron(III) and iron(II) from acidic chloride solutions by polyether and polyester type polyurethane foams

Abstract

Iron(III) is sorbed by polyether type open-cell polyurethane foams from HCl solutions of 4 mol/l or higher. The capacity of the foams is around 50 mg·l−1. The iron (III) sorbed can be eluted from the foam with 0.01 mol/l HCl or distilled water. An optimization of the sorption conditions showed that the process can be used for analytical applications. The polyurethane foam sorbents examined did not sorb iron(II). The mechanism of sorption by polyether foams seems to follow a mechanism similar to that of the extraction of iron(III) by etheric solvents.