Cu(II) tagged magnetic MgFe₂O₄: starch based surface imprinted polymer for selective copper targeting from aqueous media

In this research copper tagged magnetic surface imprinted polymer (IIP) has been developed using 1,10-phenanthroline immobilized magnesium ferrite–starch. Maximum removal of 95% was achieved at the optimum conditions i.e., 10 min contact time, pH of 6, and IIP amount of 20 mg. According to the kinetic study copper adsorption followed pseudo-second-order model moreover, based on the isotherm study Freundlich model better described the adsorption process as the maximum adsorption capacity of 33.7 mg g⁻¹ was achieved. Adsorbed copper ions were eluted from the adsorbent surface with an HCl solution (0.5 mol L⁻¹) and the IIP exhibited appropriate reusability (removal of more than 92%) after four cycles of sorption and elution. The limit of detection, linear dynamic range and RSD were 0.5 and 3.0–100 µg L⁻¹ and 3%, respectively. The copper-tagged IIP showed a selectivity factor of 8.8, 4.6, 3.3, 3.2 and 5.4 concerning Zn, Ni, Co, Mn and Cd, respectively. The developed IIP-based adsorption system was employed for copper adsorption/preconcentration from water and food samples with an efficiency more than of 95%. Results confirmed that the IIP system is an appropriate route to reduce the side effects of heavy metals in aqueous media.