ION-EXCHANGE MODULES FORMED FROM POLYHIPE FOAM PRECURSORS

Homogeneous, highly porous, low density, open cellular polyhipe polyme r (PHP) has been produced by polymerisation of a high internal phase e mulsion. Its surface properties were modified by sulphonation. By inco rporating Na+ ions onto the sulphonated PHP surfaces a modular form of ion exchange resin capable of effective exchange with metal ions in s olution was produced. Isotherms were measured for samples of PHP of di ffering degrees of sulphonation, and compared with data obtained from commercially available ion exchange resins. The capacity of PHP increa sed with the degree of sulphonation, In single-pass dynamic adsorption tests the PHP showed better column utilization than the commercial re sins. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.