ADSORPTION-DESORPTION BEHAVIOR OF PHENOLS ON NOVEL POLYMERS CONTAINING THE PYRROLIDINONE MOIETY

Crosslinked polymers having a pyrrolidinone moiety (CPS, CPES, and CVP ) were synthesized by radical copolymerization of 4-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidi nyl) methylstyrene, 4-[2-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy]methylstyrene, o r 2-vinylpyrrolidinone with divinylbenzene in the presence of AIBN as a radical initiator. The adsorption-desorption behavior of phenols on these polymers was investigated. The polymers with spacers between the polymer main chain and pyrrolidinone moiety appeared to have a superi or adsorption capability to those without such spacers. The amount of phenol adsorbed on the polymers in a solvent decreased in the followin g order: water > chloroform > methanol. In methanol, the interaction b etween the polymers and phenol was suggested to come only from charge- transfer stacking (C-T stacking), whereas in chloroform the interactio n was caused mainly by both hydrogen bonding and C-T stacking. The int eraction in water was attributed not only to both hydrogen bonding and C-T stacking, but also to a hydrophobic interaction. Characterization of polymers (CVP) containing adsorbed phenol was carried out by therm ogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TGA curves indicated a two step weigh t-decrease, namely the first step in the temperature ranging from ca. 100-200-degrees-C was attributed to the desorption of phenol while the second step in the temperature ranging from ca. 350-500-degrees-C was based on thermal decomposition of the polymers. The desorption of phe nol adsorbed on the polymers in water indicated an inverse tendency to the adsorption; that is, the amount of phenol desorbed from the polym ers without a spacer was more than those from the polymers with spacer s. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.