Surface-functionalized polymer nanoparticles for selective sequestering of heavy metals

Abstract

Xanthate-mediated (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) emulsion polymerization has been used to create novel polystyrene nanoparticles with functionalized surfaces (see Figure) for the selective sequestering of heavy metals from water below ppm levels. These nanoparticles show a high degree of selectivity for HgII over CoII. This technology has potential for the selective remediation of heavy metals from the human blood system. © 2006, Wiley-VCH Verlag Berlin