An Optical Sensor Based on Polyvinyl Benzyl Malonate Cross-Linked with Divinyl Benzene Dispersed in a Hydrogel Membrane for Detection of Some Heavy Metals
Date
2012-04-04
Authors
Odeh, Imad
Shakhsher, Ziad
Jaber, Suha
Khateeb, Mahmood
Al-Rimawi, Fuad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research
Abstract
In previous work we have developed a dicarboxylate functionalized polymer that demonstrated chemical sensing. It showed good response to pH changes as well as to varying concentrations of copper and calcium ions. Our recent investi- gations showed interesting results upon testing the functionalized sensing polymer on heavy metals. This sensor is composed of microspheres of polyvinyl benzyl malonate lightly-cross-linked with divinyl benzene dispersed in a hy- drogel membrane. The response of the optical sensor is based on the interaction between the metal cations with the de-protonated functional group. The polymer, thus, undergoes shrinking as a result of neutralization of adjacent negative charges on the back-bone of the polymer. This causes significant changes in the optical properties of the sensing ele- ment. The optical changes were measured as absorbance vs. wavelength as the sensing membrane is exposed to solu- tions of varying concentrations of heavy metal ions. The sensor showed significant increase in absorbance up to a con- centration of 5 × 10–3 M to the following metal ions: Ni2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+. Furthermore, the studied capacity of the deri- vatized microspheres showed close values to Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ (1.20, 1.09, 1.08 mmol/g respectively). These kinds of properly functionalized polymers appear to be suitable, versatile sensing elements for the detection of low concentra- tions of heavy metal ions. In addition, all of the tested heavy metals showed a similar value of the equilibrium formation constant, (log Kf1 is 2.63). In contrast, the sensor showed no significant response to varying concentrations of K+ and Mg2+ metal ions.
Description
Keywords
Shrinking Microsphere Polymer , Polyvinylbenzylmalonate , Optical Chemical Sensors , Heavy Metal Sensing , Equilibrium Formation Constant
Citation
Odeh, Z. Shakhsher, S. Jaber, M. Khateeb and F. Al-Rimawi, "An Optical Sensor Based on Polyvinyl Benzyl Malonate Cross-Linked with Divinyl Benzene Dispersed in a Hydrogel Membrane for Detection of Some Heavy Metals," American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2012, pp. 283-287. doi: 10.4236/ajac.2012.34038.