Reactive & Functional Polymers 46 (2000) 157–164 www.elsevier.com / locate / react Synthesis and adsorption properties of poly(2- hydroxyethylmethacrylate-co-methacrylamidophenylalanine) membranes for copper ions a, b c d * ¨ Adil Denizli , Rıdvan Say , Suleyman Patır , Yakup Arıca a Department of Chemistry, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey b Department of Chemistry, Anadolu University, Eskis ¸ehir, Turkey c Department of Science Education, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey d Department of Biology, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey Received 15 March 2000; received in revised form 17 July 2000; accepted 25 July 2000 Abstract In the first step of this study, the metal complexing ligand, 2-methacrylamidophenylalanine (MAPA), was synthesized by using methacrylochloride and phenylalanine. The MAPA monomer was characterized by NMR. Then, poly(2-hydroxy- ethylmethacrylate-co-2-methacrylamidophenylalanine) [p(HEMA-co-MAPA)] membranes were prepared by UV-initiated photo-polymerization of HEMA and MAPA in the presence of an initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN). p(HEMA-co- MAPA) membranes were characterized by FTIR and elemental analysis. These p(HEMA-co-MAPA) affinity membranes with 2 a swelling ratio of 133.2%, and containing 18.9 mmol MAPA / m , were used in the adsorption–desorption of copper(II) ions from synthetic solutions. Adsorption equilibria was reached in about 2 h. The maximum adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto 2 pHEMA was about 0.54 mmol Cu(II) / m . The MAPA incorporation significantly increased the Cu(II) adsorption capacity 2 by chelate formation of Cu(II) ions with MAPA molecules (23.8 mmol Cu(II) / m ), which was observed at pH 7.0. The chelating membrane can be easily regenerated by 0.1 M HNO with higher effectiveness.  2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All 3 rights reserved. Keywords: Methacrylamido phenylalanine; Affinity membranes; Copper(II) removal 1. Introduction achieved global proportions [1]. Recently, chelating polymers have found widespread ap- The role of heavy metals in environmental plications in the enrichment and removal of issues has become increasingly more prominent heavy metals from a variety of matrices [2–12]. in recent years as ecological awareness has Several criteria are important in the design of chelating polymers with substantial stability for the selective removal of heavy metal ions: specific and fast complexation of the metal ions *Corresponding author. Tel.: 190-312-297-7983; fax: 190- as well as the reusability of the chelating 312-299-2163. E-mail address: denizli@hacettepe.edu.tr (A. Denizli). polymeric ligands [7]. A large number of chelat- 1381-5148 / 00 / $ – see front matter  2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S1381-5148(00)00055-9