Polymer and method for using the same

1. A polymer derived from:

reaction of glycidyl (meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether or [(vinyloxy)methyl]oxirane with ammonia or primary amine to obtain a mixture of monomer compounds, wherein the primary amine is iso-propanolamine, propanolamine or monoethanol amine;

reaction of the mixture of monomer compounds with at least one of acrylic acid, vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, acrylamide, methylacrylic acid, and methylacrylamide to obtain an intermediate polymer; and

reaction of the intermediate polymer with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide.

2. A polymer derived from:

reaction of glycidyl (meth)acrylate, allyl glycidyl ether or [(vinyloxy)methyl]oxirane with ammonia or primary amine to obtain a mixture of monomer compounds;

reaction of the mixture of monomer compounds with at least one of acrylic acid, vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, acrylamide, methylacrylic acid, and methylacrylamide to obtain an intermediate polymer; and

reaction of the intermediate polymer with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide, wherein the mixture of monomer compounds comprises at least one of compounds 1, 3 and 5, and at least one of compounds 2, 4, and 6

3. The polymer of claim 2 , wherein the primary amine is iso-propanolamine, propanolamine, or monoethanol amine.

4. A method comprising:

adding an effective amount of a polymer of claim 1 to an aqueous solution comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminium, arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, plutonium, tin, thorium, thallium, uranium, vanadium, tungsten, zirconium, zinc, selenium and combinations thereof to form a precipitate comprising the at least one element; and

removing the precipitate from the aqueous solution.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises structural unit of formula A, structural unit of formula B, and, structural unit of formula C or structural unit of formula D

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises structural unit of formula E, structural unit of formula F, and, structural unit of formula C or structural unit of formula D

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises structural unit of formula C, at least one of structural unit of formula H and structural unit of formula I, and, at least one of structural unit of formula J and structural unit of formula K

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein a concentration ratio by weight of each of the at least one element to the polymer in the aqueous solution ranges from about 100:1 to about 1:1000.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one element is selected from the group consisting of mercury, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, cobalt, cadmium, nickel and combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the polymer comprises structural units of formula I, formula II, and formula III

wherein

R 1 is —OM or —NH 2 ;

R 2 , R 9 , R 12 , and R 16 are independently hydrogen, or a methyl group;

R 3 , R 4 , R 7 , R 8 , R 10 , R 11 , R 17 , and R 18 are independently hydrogen, a methyl group, or —COOH, only one of R 3 and R 4 , or R 7 and R 8 , or R 10 and R 11 , or R 17 and R 18 is —COOH;

R 5 , R 13 , and R 14 are independently

R 6 is H,

R 15 is —CSSM,

and

M is monovalent cation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprises from about 0.1 mol % to about 40 mol % of structural units of formula III based on a total of structural units of formula I, II and III.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprises from about 1 mol % to about 10 mol % of structural units of formula III based on a total of structural units of formula I, II and III.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein the removing is by filtering the precipitate from the aqueous solution.

14. The method of claim 4 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises calcium ions or magnesium ions.

15. The method of claim 4 , wherein a pH of the aqueous solution is at least about 7.

16. A polymer comprising structural units of formula I, formula II, and formula III

wherein

R 1 is —OM or —NH 2 ;

R 2 , R 9 , R 12 , and R 16 are independently hydrogen, or a methyl group;

R 3 , R 4 , R 7 , R 8 , R 10 , R 11 , R 17 , and R 18 are independently hydrogen, a methyl group, or —COOH, only one of R 3 and R 4 , or R 7 and R 8 , or R 10 and R 11 , or R 17 and R 18 is —COOH;

R 5 , R 13 , and R 14 are independently

R 6 is H,

R 15 is —CSSM,

and

M is monovalent cation.

17. The polymer of claim 16 , wherein the polymer comprises structural units of formula A, formula B, and, formula C or formula D

18. The polymer of claim 16 , wherein the polymer comprises structural units of formula E, formula F, and, formula C or formula D

19. The polymer of claim 16 , wherein the polymer comprises structural unit of formula C, at least one of structural unit of formula H and structural unit of formula I, and at least one of structural units of formula J and structural units of formula K