Effect of the polymer concentration on the interactions of water-soluble polymers with metal ions

Despite poly(allylamine) forms a complex with Ni2+ with three amino groups in the coordination sphere of the metal ion. the corresponding formation constant is of order one considering the polymer concentration. This supports the idea of the existence of polymeric domains with local high and nearly constant ligand concentration. Analogous behavior is found for the system poly(sodium I-styrenesulfonate) with Pb2+.