Antimicrobial studies and ion exchange properties of copolymer resin derived from p-HBBF

p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde–biuret–formaldehyde (p-HBBF) copolymer resin was synthesized through the condensation of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and biuret with formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid as a catalyst and with various molar ratios of the reacting monomers. The resulting copolymer was characterized with UV-visible, FTIR, ¹H-NMR and C¹³ NMR spectral data, employed to determine the reactivity of monomers. The average molecular weight of this resin was determined with conductometric titration in a nonaqueous medium. The chelating ion-exchange properties were also studied with the batch equilibrium method. The chelating ion-exchange properties of this copolymer was studied for seven metal ions (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺). The study was carried out over a wide pH range and in media of various ionic strengths. The copolymer showed a higher selectivity for Fe³⁺ ions than that for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺. The surface morphology of the copolymer resin was examined by scanning electron microscopy, and it establishes the transition state between crystalline and amorphous phases. The p-HBBF copolymer resin was tested for its inhibitory action against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The resin shows potent inhibitory action against bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp (NCIM 2719) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and fungi, namely, Candida albicans and Penicillium sp.