Low cross-linked terpenes-based porous polymers with reduced content of divinylbenzene: synthesis, physicochemical properties and sorption abilities

Abstract

The low cross-linked porous polymers were prepared using terpene compounds (citral, limonene and pinene) and divinylbenzene with a suspension method. The prepared materials were characterized by: ATR-FTIR, low temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption, TGA, swelling ratio and solid phase extraction (SPE) experiments. ATR-FTIR verified the chemical structures of the polymers. All the materials had developed internal structure with SBET in the range of 45–190 m2/g and high thermal stability. Sorption properties of the terpene-based polymers were tested for phenolic compounds (phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol) and popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen) and an antibiotic (ampicillin) with a dynamic solid phase extraction (SPE) method. The recoveries of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol remained at a level 80–100% for all new materials even for 10–13 concentration cycles. Very high recoveries (70–100%) were also obtained for ibuprofen and aspirin from the citral- and limonene-based polymers using one-component solutions. However, when using ternary component solutions, the maximum recoveries of ibuprofen reached 70%. Paracetamol recoveries did not exceed 20%, while these for ampicillin ranged from 40 to 80%. The performed studies have proven that the process is affected by both chemical nature of adsorbents and adsorbates. Especially in the case of multicomponent solutions, the acid—base balance of solutes in the solution and on the polymer—solution interface should be taken into account as an important factor determining obtained recoveries.