Synthesis and dichromate anion sorption of silica gel-immobilized calix[4]arenes.

Three new silica gel-immobilized calix[4]arene polymers 9-11 have been prepared via modification of calix[4]arene mono amido derivatives 3-5 with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) and activated silica gel, respectively. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis. The solid-liquid extraction properties of ligands 3-5 along with their immobilized derivatives 9-11 towards dichromate (HCr(2)O(7)(-)/Cr(2)O(7)(2-)) anions were reported. It was found that these calix[4]arene-based polymers have high extraction abilities towards dichromate anions as compared to their monomeric precursors.