Efficient, “one‐pot” synthesis of suspension crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene via a Friedel–Crafts reaction

Abstract

Abstract A suspension technique leading to macronet ionic resins is described based on a single reactor process. The procedures demonstrate sulfuric acid as a polar suspending medium that can act as a sulfonating agent, a Friedel–Crafts catalyst, and a crosslinking agent. The sulfonation reaction was finally completed using sulfuric acid excess, or oleum 65%. High yields were obtained for the crosslinking and the sulfonation reaction, while the final products were characterized by using ion‐exchange capacity measurements, U.V. spectra, and determination of the degree of crosslinking. The number average molecular weight between crosslinks and the ion‐exchange capacity H + →Na + of the resins was decreasing by increasing the nominal crosslinking ratio. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.