SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW COMPOSITE ION-EXCHANGERS

The charcoal obtained by sulphonating the tannin rich mangroves bark w as used to replace the polymeric matrix of phenolformaldehyde sulphoni c acid. A few cation exchangers were obtained by varying the substitue nt content from zero to 100 per cent. The important characteristics of the composites have been determined. Since the composites up to 30 pe r cent substitution retain the essential properties of pure phenolic c ationite and also that the mangroves bark is available freely and in p lenty, it is established that the 30 per cent composite is a cheaper c ation exchanger.