SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIFUNCTIONAL CELLULOSE-G-POLY(GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE) BASED CATION EXCHANGERS CONTAINING BOTH SULFONIC AND CARBOXYLIC-ACID GROUPS

Cellulose-g-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) copolymer was reacted with aqueous solutions containing mixtures of both sodium sulfite and citric acid, in order to synthesize bifunctional cation exchangers containing both sulfonic and carboxylic acid groups. Factors affecting the reaction, such as percent neutralization of citric acid with sodium carbonate, time, temperature, liquor ratio, reagents-to-epoxide molar ratio, and monosodium salt of citric acid-to-epoxide molar ratio were studied. Reaction conditions were selected to prepare five kinds of cation exchangers of different sulfonic and carboxy contents. These exchangers were characterized by potentiometric titrations, durability tests, and water solubility.