Synthesis, characterization and ion-exchange properties of a new and novel ‘organic–inorganic’ hybrid cation-exchanger: Poly(methyl methacrylate) Zr(IV) phosphate

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 and high selectivity for heavy metals. In the present study, a hybrid type of ion exchanger poly(methyl methacrylate) Zr(1V) phosphate has been synthesized by mixing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) into inorganic cation-exchange material Zr(IV) phosphate. The physicochemical properties of this hybrid material were determined using AAS, elemental analysis, ICP-MS, UV–vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TGA-DTA and XRD studies. Ion-exchange capacity (IEC), chemical stability, thermal stability and distribution behavior, etc. studies were also carried out to understand the cation-exchange behavior of the material. Sorption studies showed that the composite cation-exchanger has high selectivity to Pb(II) in comparison to other metal ions. Its selectivity was examined by achieving some important binary separations like Pb(II)–Mg(II), Pb(II)–Cd(II), Pb(II)–Hg(II), Pb(II)–Cu(II), and Cu(II)–Cd(II).