Advanced Characterization of Binuclear Azo Polymeric Resins for Enhanced Metal Ion Uptake and Antibacterial Applications

An acyclic dinuclear metal complex with O4 donor coordination site was prepared and isolated.  A polymethacrylate anchored coordination compound turned out to be designed by the combination of azo compound derived from 3-formyl salicylic acid and diazonium salt of 4-aminophenol with methacryloyl chloride and further polymerized using DMF solvent with benzoyl peroxide as initiator.  The polychelates were isolated by treating the DMF solution of the resin with metal ions dissolved in water.  The elemental analysis data strongly suggest 1:1 ligand-to-metal ratio, thus confirming the formation of a binuclear metal complex.  The structure of the polymer and polychelates was confirmed by IR spectral data and the result reveals that the coordination of divalent metal is through oxygen of the aldehyde group, carboxylate ion, and phenolic –OH which in turn act as the bridging group. The electronic spectrum and magnetic moment values were used to justify the square planar and distorted octahedral structure for Cu (II) and Ni (II) polychelates.  The increase in the crystalline nature of polychelates was explained using an XRD study. In addition, the synthesized polymer was experimented with for metal uptake properties under different pH and electrolytes which find applications in wastewater treatment.  Also, the polychelates were studied for anti-bacterial activities with various micro-organisms using the agar well diffusion method, and the results are discussed.