SELECTIVE ADSORPTION OF COPPER(II) OVER IRON(III) ON CHITOSAN DERIVATIVE INTRODUCING PYRIDYL GROUP

Crosslinked N-(2-pyridylmethyl)chitosan(=PMC) with lower affinity for iron(III) was synthesized to improve the selectivity of copper(II)/iron(III). Compared with that of the crosslinked copper-complexed chitosan, the order of selectivity of copper(II)/iron(III) was reversed. Copper(II) was selectively adsorbed on PMC at a lower pH by 4 units over iron(III) from 1 mol dm(-3) aqueous ammonium nitrate solution.