Rohm and Haas Company

Samuel F Reed

David L Hundermark

Robert K Pinschmidt, Jr

James Henry Barrett

Linear addition polymer beads having repeating units of vinylbenzyl alcohol and at least one other structure different from vinylbenzyl alcohol, wherein the vinylbenzyl alcohol units comprise at least 0.5% by weight of the linear polymer, and thermally crosslinked derivatives thereof. The beads are thermally crosslinked by heating during formation thereof or thereafter in the presence of a free radical initiator, such that benzylic methylene or benzyloxy crosslinks are formed between aromatic rings of the vinylbenzyl alcohol units, and between the vinylbenzyl alcohol units and other active sites in the polymer. The linear addition polymers may be formed directly from vinylbenzyl alcohol monomer and at least one other monomer, or indirectly by hydrolysis of vinylbenzyl chloride during linear polymer formation therefrom. The crosslinked products are useful as adsorbents, hydrogels and as intermediates in the preparation of other adsorbents, ion exchange resins, catalysts and slow release agents.

Vinylbenzyl alcohol polymer beads and thermally crosslinked derivatives

Linear addition polymer beads having repeating units of vinylbenzyl alcohol and at least one other structure different from vinylbenzyl alcohol, wherein the vinylbenzyl alcohol units comprise at least 0.5% by weight of the linear polymer, and thermally crosslinked derivatives thereof. The beads are thermally crosslinked by heating during formation thereof or thereafter in the presence of a free radical initiator, such that alpha-hydroxy benzylic methylene or benzyloxy crosslinks are formed between aromatic rings of the vinylbenzyl alcohol units, and between the vinylbenzyl alcohol units and other active sites in the polymer. The linear addition polymers may be formed directly from vinylbenzyl alcohol monomer and at least one other monomer, or indirectly by hydrolysis of vinylbenzyl chloride during linear polymer formation therefrom. The crosslinked products are useful as adsorbents, hydrogels and as intermediates in the preparation of other adsorbents, ion exchange resins, catalysts and slow release agents.

Polymeric adsorbents exhibiting improved porosity and adsorption are produced from lightly crosslinked macroreticular aromatic copolymer beads by post-crosslinking the copolymer beads while in a swollen state, the crosslinks resulting from the post-crosslinking comprising the residue of an external crosslinker selected from a polyfunctional alkylating agent, a polyfunctional acylating agent, and a sulfur halide. An acid catalyst is used for the post-crosslinking, such as a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The adsorbents may be functionalized to ion exchange resins.

Polymeric adsorbents from macroreticular polymer beads

Polymeric adsorbents exhibiting improved adsorption are produced from lightly crosslinked vinylbenzyl chloride copolymer beads by post-crosslinking the copolymer beads while in a swollen state by contact with a Lewis acid catalyst such as a Friedel-Crafts catalyst or an acidic sulfonating agent. The adsorbents post-crosslinked with a Friedel-Crafts catalyst may be functionalized to ion exchange resins. Those adsorbents post-crosslinked with a sulfonating agent already are strong acid ion exchange resins.

Polymeric adsorbents from vinylbenzyl chloride copolymer beads

Chloromethylated hybrid copolymers are base-functionalized with polyethyleneimines prior to conventional acid functionalization, to produce hybrid resins with markedly improved ion exchange properties.

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Holland, PA, United States of America

Samuel F Reed