Polymer-metal complexes for environmental protection. Chemoremediation
in the aqueous homogeneous phase*
Kurt E. Geckeler
Laboratory of Applied Macromolecular Chemistry, Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Kwangju Institute of Science and
Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Kwangju 500-712, South Korea
Abstract: The concept of chemoremediation in the liquid homogeneous
phase using polymer reagents as a green technology is presented and
outlined. It is based on the retention of polymermetal complexes
in aqueous solution according to their molecular size by using membrane
filtration. The fundamentals of the metal ion interaction with respect
to enrichment and separation procedures are discussed, and the role
of polymermetal complexes is assessed. The formation conditions
of these polymermetal complexes as well as major factors influencing
the process are investigated. In addition, recent developments using
this method are evaluated, and several application examples are highlighted.
*Lectures presented at the International Symposium
on Green Chemistry, Delhi, India, 10-13 January 2001. Other presentations
are published in this issue, pp. 77-203.
