The present work deals with the preparation of
new polymeric extractor by the reaction of polyurethane
foam with the analytical reagent azine
basic dye Nile blue A. This new extractor was used
to extract, preconcentrate, separate of Fe (III), Cd
(II), Hg (II) and Zn (II) from aqueous solutions.
The extraction process depends on the formation
of ion association complex between the metal ion
complexes and the grafted foam. Characterization
of the grafted foam indicated that the grafted foam
is more dense thane the loaded foam where it is
more cross linkage due to the additional bonds
between the basic dye Nile blue A and the other
groups in the polyurethane foam matrix. Experiments
indicated that the reagent is washed out
from the loaded foam however in case of grafted
foam Nile blue A is not washed out. From our
study Nile blue A grafted foam has ability to
extract Fe(III),Cd(II),Zn(II) as thiocyanate complexes
and Hg(II) as chloride from acidic aqueous
solutions. Also this grafted foam can remove these
tested metal ions from waste water with successfully
effect. We must remember that grafted foam
has advantage properties than loaded foam in the
extraction process.