Noble metal ion sorption by pyridyl and bipyridyl group-containing chelating polymers

A series of eighteen 4-vinylpyridine and 4-methyl-4'-vinylbipyridine copoly mers with different crosslinkers was examined as sorbents for the noble met al ions of Ag(I), Au(III), Pd(II), and Pt(II) from aqueous solutions. The c helating polymers possess appreciable sorption selectivity for Au(III) over Ag(I) and for Pd(II) over Pt(II). Binding abilities of the copolymers towa rd the noble metal ions vary as the identity of the chelating heterocyclic amine moiety and the structure of the crosslinkers are altered. (C) 2001 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.