Mechanochemical synthesis of salicylic acid–formaldehyde chelating co-polymer

A mechanochemical synthesis of a co-polymer of salicylic acid and formaldehyde is reported. New IR absorbance bands found after the performance of the mechanochemical synthesis are attributed to the formation of a salicylic acid–formaldehyde co-polymer. Dislocation deformation along slide planes in the salicylic acid structure occurs in the course of the mechanochemical activation causing no essential changes in the more stable hydrogen bonds net. The weaker inter-layer bonds in the acid structures are broken during activation, but are restored soon after the completion of the process. Polycondensation reaction occurs as a result of the mechanochemical process of the salicylic acid–formaldehyde mixture. The obtained co-polymer is a chelating agent capable of binding Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. A comparison was made of the ion exchange capacity and metal ion binding capacity of the mechanochemically produced co-polymer with the co-polymer synthesized using the conventional “wet” method.