SYNTHESIS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF STARCH-SULFONATED PHENOL-FORMALDEHYDE CATIONIC EXCHANGERS

A new cationic exchanger was synthesized through a complex system invo lving reactions of starch or modified starches, phenol and formaldehyd e in presence of HCl, followed by sulphonation using sulphuric acid. M ajor properties of these resins including exchange capacity, swellabil ity, solubility, ability to remove heavy metals were studied and compa red with those of sulphonated phenol formaldehyde resin. This was done to signify the importance of the presence of the starch or the modifi ed starches in the backbone of the resin. Tentative mechanisms for the reactions involved in the synthesis of such cation exchangers is also reported.