A novel type of template molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared by bulk polymerization using yttrium(III) ion as a template, yttrium(III)-4-vinylpyridine-acetylacetonate complex as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as a crosslinker. The selectivity and adsorption capacity for the Y(III) ions of Y(III)-MIP were systematically studied in this paper. The results obtained show that the sorption equilibrium was achieved in 60 min and the maximum sorption of yttrium(III) imprinted polymer was about 12.4 mg•g−1. When the Y(III)-MIP was repeatedly used, its adsorption capacity was kept. And the selectively adsorbed amount of Y(III) ion on Y(III)-MIP is higher than those of all other ions studied.

Key words: yttrium, acetylacetonate, metal complex, molecularly imprinted polymer