Biomass trans-Anethole-Based Hollow Polymer Particles: Preparation and Application as Sustainable Absorbent

Abstract

A novel type of hollow polymer particles containing carboxyl groups was prepared from a widely available biophenylpropene trans-anethole (ANE). To prepare the hollow particles, we first prepared polymeric particles using vinyl acetate and maleic anhydride (MAH), and then such particles were taken as sacrificial templates for the subsequent formation of core/shell particles, which were synthesized by using ANE and MAH as comonomers and divinylbenzene (DVB) as cross-linking agent through precipitation polymerization. After removing the core in the prepared core/shell particles, we obtained hollow particles and then hydrolyzed the anhydride groups into carboxyl functional groups. The hollow particles were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and TEM, and further used as absorbents. The maximum adsorption toward Cu2+ and methylene blue reached 270 and 940 mg/g, respectively. The recycling study showed that the biobased hollow particles can be easily restored and reused. The hollow particles may find practical applica...