Adsorption properties of thermally stable and biologically active polyurea: its synthesis and spectral aspects

Novel polymer metal complexes were prepared by the condensation polymerization of a polymeric ligand with transition metal ions of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II). The polymeric ligand was prepared by the addition polymerization of urea with toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate in 1:1 molar ratio. The polymeric ligand and its polymer metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C‐NMR, and¹H‐NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). The geometry was determined by electronic spectra and magnetic moment measurement. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was utilized to find out the degradation process of the polyurea ligand and the polymer metal complexes. The TGA data revealed that all the metal‐containing polyureas are much more thermally stable than the corresponding polyurea ligand. The surface morphology of the polyurea ligand and cobalt(II)‐containing polyureas was determined by scanning electron micrographs. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of all the synthesized polymers were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis (bacteria) and Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus (fungi). These compounds show remarkably good biocidal activities, which were enhanced after complexation with the metal. Batch adsorption studies of the ligand were carried out for malachite green dye, and the polyurea ligand was found to be a good adsorbent for this dye. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.