SYNTHESES OF THIACROWN ETHERS POLYMERS AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR HEAVY-METAL ION ADSORBENTS

Vinylbenzyloxy)-1,4,8,11-tetrathiacyclotetradecane (S14S4) and -vinylb enzyloxy)-1,4,7,14,17-hexathiacycloeicosane (S20S6) were synthesized a s thiacrown ether monomers by using a high dilution cyclization method . The thiacrown ether monomers were polymerized and copolymerized with styrene (St) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) by radical polymerization. Their affinity for the solvent was easily controlled by choosing the c omonomer used. The thiacrown ether polymer ligands had binding selecti vity for Ag(I) and Hg(II) ions like as a polymer ligand having acyclic polythioether units. The binding ability, however, was not affected b y the shape of the thioether (either a cyclic ether or an acyclic ethe r) and by the copolymer composition. They can be used as an adsorbent under acidic condition and can reused repeatedly.