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

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 S-BET in the range of 45-190 m(2)/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.