CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES INTO CATION-EXCHANGE MATERIALS

A series of cation exchange resins were prepared from some low-value a gricultural residues. Carboxylate (maleate, succinate, end phthalate), phosphate, and sulfate groups were incorporated onto the complex poly saccharide matrix of oat hulls, corn cobs, and sugar beet pulp. Standa rd reaction conditions were established, using cellulose as the model polysaccharide. The magnitude of functional group incorporation, under standard conditions, was taken as a measure of the reactivity of the agricultural residues studied. In general, the order of reactivity was sugar beet pulp > corn cob > oat hull. The unsubstituted and the func tionalized agricultural residues were tested for their potential abili ty to remove cations from waste water discharges. The capability of th ese materials to remove cations from waste waters was estimated from t heir calcium binding capacity. The calcium binding capacities of the r esins prepared from the agricultural residues varied from around 559-3 466 mu equiv/g. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.