Synthesis and Adsorption Properties of 4 –Vinylpyridine, Styrene and Maleic Anhydride Copolymer in Situ Immobilized on Silica Surface

A new mineral-organic composite by in situ immobilization of poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene-co-maleic anhydride) on the silica gel surface was synthesized. According to TG-analysis, the composite contained 31.84 wt.% of immobilized copolymer. The highest sorption activity of a new composite was established towards micro-quantities of Cu (II) ions in neutral medium as well as towards Pb(II) and Fe(III) ions in a slightly acidic medium with the background of phthalate buffer and no sorption activity towards Cd(II) ions. The composite obtained exhibits a sorption capacity higher in 1.88, 5.00 and 3.35 times for Fe(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions respectively in comparison with parent silica gel.