PREPARATION OF STRONGLY ACIDIC CATION-EXCHANGE RESINS FROM WOOD PYROLYSIS TAR BLENDED WITH PHENOL

Pyrolysis tar discharged during a 400 degrees C-carbonization of karam atsu (Larix leptolepis GORD.) was blended with phenol at a ratio of 3: 1 by weight, together with formaline and an alkaline solution. The mix ture then was resinified, hardened, and sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid to make a strongly acidic cation exchange resin. Although the re sin obtained was a little brittle, its maximum capacity of total catio n exchange attained 2.5 meq/g which was equivalent to 90% of the capac ity of a typical phenol-type cation exchanger p-phenolsulfonic acid-fo rmaldehyde resin. Thus, the method was effective for converting the wa ste by-product of wood carbonization into a high value-added product.