Zincon Polymer as a New Modifier for Selective Separation and Determination of Copper and Zinc from Synthetic, Water and Drug Samples

Chloromethyl polystyrene polymer (CMPSpolymer) has been modified with 2-carboxy-2-hydroxy- 5-sulfoformazyl benzene (Zincon) to be used as a new reagent for preconcentration of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The modified polymer (Z-polymer) has been characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectra. Batch and column modes were operated. The newly designed polymer sorbs Cu(II) and Zn(II) quantitatively at pH 7 with flow rate of 5 ml min^-1. The maximum sorption capacities for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions were 1.26 and 1.04 mmol g^-1. The preconcentration factors were 250 and 200 for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The limit of detection was 4 and 5 ng ml^-1 for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The desorption was effective by using 5 ml of 0.1 mol l^-1 HCl or HNO₃ prior to detection using AAS. The modified polymer was highly ion-selective even in the presence of large concentration of electrolytes or organic media, with a preconcentration ability for Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The modified polymer was tested on its utility with synthetic, natural water and drug samples, showing RSD value of < 3% which reflects good accuracy and reproducibility.