Hydrogen Bonding of Acylamino-Modified Macroporous Cross-Linked Polystyrene Resins with Phenol

Hydrogen bonding plays an important role in the adsorption of organic compounds on polymeric adsorbents. Herein, three acylamino-modified macroporous cross-linked polystyrene resins, namely, PMVBA, PVBA, and PVBU, are synthesized and their adsorption of phenol is investigated in detail from hexane. The results indicate that about 3.70 mmol/g acylamino groups are uploaded on the resins, the adsorption of these resins to phenol is efficient, and the equilibrium capacity has an order of PVBU > PMVBA > PVBA. The isosteric enthalpy of adsorption is calculated, and it possesses a similar order of PVBU (−63.38 ± 9.2 kJ/mol) > PVBA (−55.81 ± 7.8 kJ/mol) > PMVBA (−39.87 ± 5.5 kJ/mol) at the zero fractional loading. Analysis of the adsorption mechanism suggests that hydrogen bonding is the main driving force for the adsorption, double hydrogen bonding is involved for phenol adsorption on PVBA and PVBU, and an approximate hexahydric ring is formed during this process.