Synthesis of Bifunctional Poly(Vinyl Phosphonic Ac-id-co-glycidyl Metacrylate-co-divinyl Benzene) Ca-tion-Exchange Resin and Its Indium Adsorption

Poly(vinyl phosphonic acid-co-glycidyl methacrylate-co-divinyl benzene) (PVGD) and PVGD containing an iminodiacetic acid group (IPVGD), which has indium ion selectivity, were synthesized by suspension polymerization, and their indium adsorption properties were investigated. The synthesized PVGD and IPVGD resins were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and mercury porosimetry. The cation-exchange capacity, the water uptake and the indium adsorption properties were investigated. The cation-exchange capacities of PVGD and IPVGD were 1.2 4.5 meq/g and 2.5 6.4 meq/g, respectively. The water uptakes were decreased with increasing contents of divinyl benzene (DVB). The water uptake values were 25% 40% and 20% 35%, respectively. The optimum adsorption of indium from a pure indium solution and an artificial indium tin oxide (ITO) solution by the PVGD and IPVGD ion-exchange resins were 2.3 and 3.5 meq/g, respectively. The indium adsorption capacities of IPVGD were higher than those of PVGD. The indium ion adsorption selectivity in the artificial ITO solution by PVGD and IPVGD was excellent, and other ions were adsorbed only slightly.