Uranium Ion Imprinted Polymer Synthesis, a New Approach to Analysis of Geological Samples (Water)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze geological samples (water) using cartridge in order to pre- concentration of these samples. In this paper, the study of Uranium ion imprinted polymer (IIP) synthesis is addressed. The Uranium ion complex in (CH3Coo)2 Uo2. 2H2O is considered as the initial nucleus of polymer. This complex is formed by di vinyl phosphonic acid (VIP) ligand. Then, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) is used as cross linker and azobis isobutyronitril (AIBN) acting as initiator in polymerization is applied for the final synthesis of polymer. The synthesis of these polymers is performed by covalent interactions. The complex of non- imprinted polymer (NIP) is also synthesized under above- mentioned condition but without the presence of Uranium ion and ligand. IIP was obtained can be used as a high absorbent for solid phase extraction (IIP-SPE). In addition, the study of condition andtests such as pH effect on absorption, permeability factor, acid concentration and volume which is required for elution is conducted in order to test the column efficiency. The experimental evidences indicate that the maximum absorption of Uranium ion is in pH= 7. In addition, 1M nitric acid solution with 5 ml volume has the highest elution rate. The rate of uranium permeation was measured above 200 mm. The results were obtained by ICP-MS as reference and ICP-OES to promote the analytical reading and reduce the detection limit. These results indicate very high absorption of IIP for Uranium ions. It must be noted that this process was successfully applied for pre-concentration of geological samples, inparticular water samples and led to the promotion of results from analyzing all metallic ions such as uranium ion in geological samples (water) by ICP-OES and analytical optimization with lower detection limit by ICP-MS.