Synthesis, characterisation, ion chelation exchange capability and antibacterial properties of the <em>o-cresol-formaldehyde-catechol-</em>based copolymer

Abstract

An ion exchange resin chelator was synthesized from o-cresol, catechol and formaldehyde through the condensation process in the molar ratio of 1:3:5 in the presence of 1 M hydrochloric acid as a catalyst. The resulting copolymer was characterized by IR spectral data. The cation exchange capacity was measured; the effect of metal ion concentration, pH effect, and the ratio of the cation exchange reaction were studied. The chelation ion-exchange properties were also studied with the batch equilibrium method. The formed copolymer chelation ion-exchange properties of the copolymer were analyzed for Cd²⁺, Cr²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions. The resin was proved selective chelating ion- exchange copolymer for the above metals. The study was carried out over a wide pH range and in media of various ionic concentrations for the metals. The antibacterial properties of the synthesized resin were also investigated, using the well diffusion method for the gram-positive bacteria, <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>and the gram-negative bacteria <em>E coli. </em>The results showed a significant inhibiting effect against the tested bacteria, against the formed resin copolymer.