Synthesis of recyclable water-soluble polymeric chelators

Galaxy Research Centre, Galaxy Surfactants Ltd., C-49/2, TTC Industrial Area, Pawne, Navi Mumbai-400 703, India E-mail : Nirmai.Koshti@ galaxysurfactants.com Manuscript received 8 October 2002, revised 3 November 2003, accepted 14 November 2003 Facile synthesis of water-soluble poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) bound chelators is reported. These polymeric chelators have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and quantitatively phase·separate on heating. Their utility in metal removal and recycling is demonstrated with hydroxamic acid as ligand and Fe3+ as metal ion