A comparative investigation of copper and cobalt imprinted polymers: evidence for retention of the solution-state metal ion–ligand complex stoichiometry in the imprinted cavities

Abstract

A copper imprinted polymer (CuVbMIP) was synthesised using a well characterised 1 : 1 complex of Cu²⁺ with vinylbenzyliminodiacetic acid (VbIDA). The sorption behaviour of CuVbMIP was compared with that of cobalt imprinted polymer (CoVbMIP) synthesised using the 1 : 2 complex of Co²⁺ and VbIDA. The complexation properties of the imprinted polymers were investigated using EPR and batch sorption studies. The results indicated that the complexation geometry in the sorption sites were different in the imprinted polymers. The sorption sites generated in the imprinted polymers were found to complex with the metal ions strictly according to the stoichiometry maintained in solution during the preparation of the imprinted polymers.