Synthesis and Adsorption Performance of Surface‐Grafted Co(II)‐Imprinted Polymer for Selective Removal of Cobalt

The surface‐grafting ion‐imprinting technology was applied to synthesis of a new Co(II)‐imprinted polymer Co(II)‐IP], which could be used for selective removal of Co(II) from aqueous solutions. The prepared polymer was characterized by using the infrared spectra (IR), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), X‐ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The maximum adsorption capacity values for the Co(II)‐imprinted polymer and non‐imprinted polymer (NIP) were 22 and 8 mg/g, respectively. The Freundlich equation fitted the adsorption isotherm data well. The applicability of two kinetic models including pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models was estimated on the basis of comparative analysis of the corresponding rate parameters, equilibrium capacity, and correlation coefficients. Results suggested that chemical process could be the rate‐limiting step in the adsorption process. And the adsorption of Co(II) on the Co(II)‐imprinted polymer was endothermic. The relative selectivity coefficients of the Co(II)‐imprinted polymer for Co(II)/Pb(II), Co(II)/Cu(II), Co(II)/Ni(II), Co(II)/Sr(II) and Co(II)/Cs(I) were respectively 11.5, 6.1, 13.8, 9.4, and 8.1 times greater than that of the non‐imprinted polymer. Eventually, the desorption conditions of the adsorbed Co(II) from the Co(II)‐imprinted polymer were also studied in batch experiments.