Solid–liquid extraction of iodide and bromide from aqueous media by a new water-insoluble phenoxycalix[4]pyrrole-epichlorohydrin polymer

Abstract

The present study describes the synthesis of the first phenoxycalix[4]pyrrole-epichlorohydrin based polymer. The advantage of the latter resides in its fast-single step synthesis protocol, low cost, water insolubility and its unexpected anion extraction capacity. The study of this polymer by various solid/liquid extractions with halides in aqueous solutions and quantitative ion chromatography analysis showed that unlike other calix[4]pyrrole-based entities, this polymer extracts iodide rather than bromide and fluoride owing to the presence of large extraction pockets. Evidence of an anion exchange process involving preferably chloride and bromide was also highlighted.