Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.121, No.4, 2338-2343, 2011
Detection of Arsenic Agents by Polyhydroxamic Acid
Arsenic agents are among the most destructive and fatal factors that exist in the environment, chemical agents, medicines, toxics, pesticides, etc., and working with these compounds is too limited and difficult due to their high toxicity. These deadly, dangerous, and weakening toxins are consumed for a large variety of purposes in the military industries. So measurement and identification of them are of great necessity. In this research work, acryl carbohydroxamic acid monomer was first prepared from acrylamide and then polymerized under radical conditions in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The produced polyhydroxamic acid (PHA) has antibacterial and anticancer properties as well as high complex-forming properties with transition elements. By using the chelating properties of PHA, we took steps to identify arsenic agents such as trichloroarsine, dichloroethylarsine, and lewisites (I, II, III). This polymer, possessing unique properties, measures well the arsenic of low concentrations, lower than 10 ppm, existing in the samples within a very short time (a few seconds). We will also be able to perform qualitative assessments on it through instrumental methods or titration, if required. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 121: 2338-2343, 2011