Influence of Sulfonation of Inert Macroporous and Macronet Resins on the SO2 Adsorption Capacity

The influence of sulfonation of both macroporous and hyper-cross-linked polystyrenic polymers on their adsorption capacity for SO2 removal from residual gases was studied through equilibrium experiments and microstructural analysis. The results showed that the insertion of functional sulfonic active groups leads to a decrease of adsorption capacity of macroporous and macronet resins mainly due to decreasing of specific surface area of the resins. The results were compared with those obtained for powdered activated carbon, which has an adsorption capacity higher compared with that of macroporous resins and lower than those of macronet resins. The high adsorption capacity of macronet resins has been attributed to the advanced cross-linking of the polystyrene chains that leads to the formation of a three-dimensional network with a high specific surface area. The fitting of the experimental data on the typical adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich) highlighted the surface heterogeneity of macroporous and macronet resins.