ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Synthesis and characterization of diaminomaleonitrile-functionalized polystyrene grafts for application in pervaporation separation

Hamada H. Abdel-Razik

Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, New Damietta, 34517, Egypt

E-mail: hamada600@yahoo.co.uk

Received: 11 August 2007  Revised: 6 December 2007  Accepted: 12 December 2007

Abstract: Synthesis, characterization and application of diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN)-functionalized polystyrene grafts were studied. Dibenzoyle peroxide (BP) was used as an initiator. Optimum conditions for grafting were found to be c(DAMN) = 0.5 M, c(BP) = 0.016 M, θ = 85 °C and t = 4 h. Water uptake of the polystyrene graft membranes was found to increase with the increase of the grafting yield. The chemical structure, thermal characteristics and thermal stability of the obtained membranes were investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Polystyrene graft membrane with the degree of grafting of up to 96 % was found to be useful for the pervaporation separation of phenol/water mixtures.

Keywords: graft copolymerization - polystyrene - pervaporation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-008-0037-8

Chemical Papers 62 (4) 404–409 (2008)