Mahvash Abedi - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., 1983963113, Tehran, Iran.,Radiopharmaceutical Research and Development Lab (RRDL), Nuclear Fuel Cycle School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), P.O. B
Mohammad Reza Nabid - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., 1983963113, Tehran, Iran.
Simindokht Shirvani-Arani - Radiopharmaceutical Research and Development Lab (RRDL), Nuclear Fuel Cycle School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), P.O. Box: 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Bahrami-Samani - Radiopharmaceutical Research and Development Lab (RRDL), Nuclear Fuel Cycle School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), P.O. Box: 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran.

The ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared by atom transfer radical copolymerization of acryl amide (as a functional monomer) and N,N -methylenebisacrylamide (as a crosslinking agent) in the presence of 2,2-bis(2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate)propane-1,3-disuccinate as the initiator and chelator for Y(III) ion that is capable of extracting and preconcentrating traces of Y(III) ion. The effects of potentially interfering ions were investigated. The imprinting effect of analyte is clearly demonstrated by the fact that only the IIP is capable of quantitative retention of Y(III) ions. The maximum uptake capacity of this material and that of the non-imprinted polymer are 56.8 and 26.3 mg g−1, respectively. Recovery exceeds 95% and is complete within 5 min. The relative selectivity factor for Y(III)/Sr(II) and Y(III)/Zr(II) are 78.3, and 82.6, respectively. The relative standard deviation is <2.5%, the detection limit is 0.54 μg L−1 (3σ). The sorbent was effectively was coupled to inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry to selectively separate and determine trace levels of Y(III) in water and sediment samples with satisfactory results.

Yttrium(III) - solid phase extraction – ion imprinted polymer - selective separation