Synthesis and ion exchange behaviour of polyaniline Sn(IV) arsenophosphate: a polymeric inorganic ion exchanger

Incorporation of a polymer material into an inorganic ion exchanger provides a class of hybrid ion exchangers with a good ion exchange capacity, high stability, reproducibility and selectivity for heavy metals. Such a type of ion exchanger ‘polyaniline Sn(IV) arsenophosphate’ has been synthesized by mixing polyaniline into inorganic material. This material is characterized using X-ray, IR, TGA studies in addition to ion exchange capacity, pH-titration, elution and distribution behaviour. On the basis of distribution studies, the material has been found to be highly selective for Pb(II). Kinetic study of exchange for the metal ions has been performed and some physical parameters such as self diffusion coefficient D₀, energy E_a and entropy ΔS* of activation have been determined.