Preparation and characterization of poly(bisphenol A oxalate) and studying its chelating behavior towards some metal ions

Poly(bisphenol A oxalate) was synthesized by condensation polymerization of Bisphenol A and oxalyl chloride in dichloromethane under dry nitrogen atmosphere below 5 degrees C. The resulting linear alternating polymer was characterized by inherent viscosity, FTIR, H-1-NMR, and C-13-NMR. The thermal behavior of the polymer was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The chelating behavior of the synthesized polymer towards some divalent metal ions was studied by the batch equilibrium technique as a function of pH and contact time. The isothermal behavior and kinetics of the metal ions uptake onto the polymer were also investigated. The polymer showed high rates of metal ion uptake toward Pb(II), Cu(II), and Mg(II), but low rates toward Ni(II) and Cd(II) in the measurement of metal uptake. Interestingly, the polymer was found to selectively chelate Pb(II) and Mg(II) ions in the concentration variation isotherm experiments.