The Dow Chemical Company

Tom N Demopolis

H Robert Goltz

Novel porous copolymers are disclosed which can be used to prepare ion-exchange resins and polymeric adsorbents. The copolymers comprise a copolymer of at least one monovinylidene monomer and a crosslinking monomer and have a unique cellular pore structure. The cellular structure comprises a macroporous void phase which is dispersed within a continuous copolymer phase. The porous void phase comprises a plurality of cellular void spaces which are at least partially enclosed by walls of the continuous copolymer phase. Also disclosed are processes which can be used to prepare the porous copolymers, as well as ion-exchange resins and polymeric adsorbents using the porous copolymers.

Porous copolymers having a cellular polymeric structure suitable for

Hydrocarbon emissions from fuel reservoirs, particularly those associated with motor vehicles, are abated by contacting a vented hydrocarbon fuel vapor stream from the reservoirs with a polymeric adsorbent derived from a macroporous or macroreticular copolymer of at least one monovinylidene aromatic monomer and a crosslinking monomer. The macroporous copolymers are converted into suitable adsorbents by post-polymerization crosslinking in a swollen state in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The resulting adsorbent has improved hydrocarbon adsorption capacity relative to conventional activated carbon adsorbents.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Tom N Demopolis