Characterization of Natural Rubber/Polyethylene Oxide (NR/PEO) Block Copolymer-Metal Ion Chelates

Abstract

Two shot solution polymerized natural rubber/polyethylene oxide (NR/PEO) block copolymers are used as chelating exchanger for the metal ions Mn(II) and Fe(II). The polymer - metal ion chelates are prepared via solution batch adsorption method and are subjected to various characterisation techniques. Adsorption studies shows 96 and 63 % complexation for Mn(II) and Fe(III) ions, respectively. The 72 helical conformation of PEO and metal-etheric oxygen coordination are confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The XRD results revealed the complete miscibility of metal ions and semi-crystalline nature of samples. The EDX analysis confirmed the presence of metal ions in the polymer chelates. Surface morphology is also studied using SEM and TEM techniques.