Effect of Microwave Radiation on the Synthesis of Ion Exchange Resins: A Comparative Study

Abstract

A series of new ion exchange resins was synthesized in a microwave radiation field by modification of chloromethylated styrene/divinylbenzene (S/DVB) and vinylbenzylchloride/divinylbenzene (VBC/DVB) copolymers using amines. The modification processes have been executed simultaneously using the microwave-assisted method and the most efficient, conventional one. The greatest total sorption capacities for noble metals were achieved for two resins conventionally modified using ETDA ion exchange resins based on S/DVB matrices. The microwave-modified resins reveal only slightly lower and in some circumstances even better sorption capacity for noble metals than their conventionally-modified equivalents. The differences are discussed by effect of the synthesis method as evaluated using FTIR spectrophotometry.

Keywords:

• microwave modification
• sorption
• gold
• platinum
• palladium

Additional information

Funding

This work was financed by a statutory activity subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the Faculty of Chemistry of Wroclaw University of Technology.