Taro Oya

Reversible adsorption of calcium ions by imprinted temperature sensitive gels

With the aim of developing polymeric gels sensitive to external stimuli and able to reversibly adsorb and release divalent ions, copolymer gels of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and methacrylic (MAA) monomers were prepared. We chose calcium as a target divalent ion. Two MAAs form a complex with a calcium ion, and the NIPA component allows the polymers to swell and shrink reversibly in response to temperature. The adsorbing site develops an affinity to target ions when the adsorbing molecules come into proximity, but when they are separated, the affinity diminishes. To enhance the affinity to calcium, an imprinting technique was applied using Ca2+ and Pb2+ ions as templates in methylsulfoxide and dioxane media, respectively. The adsorption capacity of the imprinted gels was compared with that of the nonimprinted gels, and the effects of the templates, the solvents, and the amount of methacrylic monomers used in the synthesis and the medium temperature over the Ca2+ adsorption capacity of the gels from aqueou...