Organic Ion Exchange Resins

Process waste (aqueous solutions, slurries, ion-exchange resins, organic liquids)... 

Uses Unsat. polyester resin comonomer crosslinking comonomer prod, of some rubbers, ion exchange resins, organic chemicals... 

The ability of living organisms to differentiate between the chemically similar sodium and potassium ions must depend upon some difference between these two ions in aqueous solution. Essentially, this difference is one of size of the hydrated ions, which in turn means a difference in the force of electrostatic (coulombic) attraction between the hydrated cation and a negatively-charged site in the cell membrane thus a site may be able to accept the smaller ion Na (aq) and reject the larger K (aq). This same mechanism of selectivity operates in other ion-selection processes, notably in ion-exchange resins. 

These ethers readily copolymerize with tetrafluoroethylene and other fluoroalkenes to commercially significant plastics, elastomers, and ion-exchange resins such as Teflon PFA, Kalrez, andNafton (see Fluorine compounds organic-tethafluoroethylene-perfluorovinylETHERcopolya rs EuASTOPffiRS, SYNTHETIC-FLUOROCARBONELASTOTffiRS lONIC POLYTffiRS). 

PhenoHc-based resins have almost disappeared. A few other resin types are available commercially but have not made a significant impact. Inorganic materials retain importance in a number of areas where synthetic organic ion-exchange resins are not normally used. Only the latter are discussed here. This article places emphasis on the styrenic and acryHc resins that are made as small beads. Other forms of synthetic ion-exchange materials such as membranes, papers, fibers (qv), foams (qv), and Hquid extractants are not included (see Extraction, liquid-liquid Membrane technology Paper.). 

The organic and aqueous phases are prepared in separate tanks before transferring to the reaction ketde. In the manufacture of a styrenic copolymer, predeterrnined amounts of styrene (1) and divinylbenzene (2) are mixed together in the organic phase tank. Styrene is the principal constituent, and is usually about 90—95 wt % of the formulation. The other 5—10% is DVB. It is required to link chains of linear polystyrene together as polymerization proceeds. DVB is referred to as a cross-linker. Without it, functionalized polystyrene would be much too soluble to perform as an ion-exchange resin. Ethylene—methacrylate [97-90-5] and to a lesser degree trivinylbenzene [1322-23-2] are occasionally used as substitutes for DVB. 

One important factor to consider in the preparation of the organic phase is the presence of inhibitors in the monomers. Some formulae call for the removal of inhibitors, primarily TCB, from the monomers. The TCB inhibitor forms highly colored complexes with metallic salts rendering the final product colored. Styrene has about 50 ppm of TCB. DVB, being more reactive, contains about 1000 ppm of TCB. There are several options for the removal of inhibitors. Columns packed with DOWEX MSA-1 or DOWEX 11 ion-exchange resins (Dow Chemical Company) can be used. White drierite or activated alumina also works well. 

A monoacetate can be isolated by continuous extraction with organic solvents such as cyclohexane/CCI4. Monoacylation can also be achieved by ion exchange resin or acid-catalyzed transesterification. 

Clearly the application of macroreticular (macroporous) ion exchange resins will be often advantageous in the separation of organic species. 

As already indicated, ion exchange resins are osmotic systems which swell owing to solvent being drawn into the resin. Where mixed solvent systems are used the possibility of preferential osmosis occurs and it has been shown that strongly acid cation and strongly basic anion resin phases tend to be predominantly aqueous with the ambient solution predominantly organic. This effect (preferential water sorption by the resin) increases as the dielectric constant of the organic solvent decreases. 

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