Preparation of new ion-selective cross-linked poly(vinylimidazole-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) using a double-imprinting process for the preconcentration of Pb²⁺ ions.

A new ion-selective cross-linked poly(vinylimidazole-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) prepared via a double-imprinting process was developed for the recognition and preconcentration of Pb(2+) from water samples. The sorbent was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TGA and textural data. The maximum dynamic sorption capacity of Pb(2+) was 42.04 mg Pb(2+) g(-1) of the double-imprinted polymer. The sorption kinetics data were described by a pseudo-second-order model. The double-imprinted polymer exhibited a higher sorption efficiency of Pb(2+) than the blank polymer (non-imprinted polymer). The preconcentration procedure involved the loading of a Pb(2+) solution at pH 7.25 through 40.0 mg of the double-imprinted polymer packed in a mini-column at 5.0 mL min(-1). The selective efficiency of proposed method for the Pb(2+) preconcentration was assured by competitive sorption using different proportions of Pb(2+)/cations and Pb(2+)/anions. An analytical curve was obtained in the range 0.0-300.0 μg L(-1) (r=0.999) and a limit of detection of 2.46 μg L(-1) was obtained. The preconcentration factor was found to be 21, the consumptive index 0.95 mL and the concentration efficiency 5.25 min(-1). The preconcentration method was successfully applied to the Pb(2+) ions determination in different kinds of water samples with high recovery values (91.3-108.9%).