Complexation of copper ions by DETA-terminated magnetic carriers

It has been shown that diethylenetriamine (DETA)-functionalized magnetic ca rriers are able to complex copper ions from dilute streams. Complexometric titration using a copper selective electrode indicates the complexation of 0.52 mu mol of Cu2+ per 50 mg of magnetic carriers. This loading capacity i s equivalent to the removal of 100 ppm of copper ions from a I-liter soluti on by 3 g of magnetic carriers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) resu lts confirm the presence of Cu-2p bands, indicating the loading of copper i ons. A shift of the nitrogen N-1s bands to higher binding energies confirms the involvement of secondary amine and amide nitrogen atoms from DETA-func tionalized carriers in copper complexation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. AU rights reserved.