n-Propylpyridinium chloride-modified poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomeric networks: preparation, characterization, and study of metal chloride adsorption from ethanol solutions

An n-propylpyridinium chloride-modified PDMS elastomeric network, PDMS/Py(+)Cl(-), was prepared from linear PDMS chains containing Si(CH(3))(2)OH end-groups cross-linked by 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane and posterior reaction with pyridine. PDMS/Py(+)Cl(-) material was structurally characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and solid state (13)C and (29)Si NMR. Thermogravimetric analysis of the product showed good thermal stability, with the initial temperature of weight loss at 450 K. The ion-exchange capacity of the PDMS/Py(+)Cl(-) was 0.65 mmol g(-1). Metal halides, MCl(z) [M=Fe(3+), Cu(2+), and Co(2+)], were adsorbed by the modified solid from ethanol solutions as neutral species by forming the surface anionic complexes MCl(z+n)(n-). The nature of the anionic complex structure was proposed by UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The species adsorbed were FeCl(-)(4), CuCl(2-)(4), and CoCl(2-)(4). The specific sorption capacities and the heterogeneous stability constants of the immobilized metal complexes were determined with the aid of computational procedures. The trend in affinities of PDMS/Py(+)Cl(-) for the metal halides were found to be FeCl(3)>CuCl(2) approximately CoCl(2).