Open-celled polymeric foam monoliths for heavy metal separations study

Open-celled polymeric foam monoliths prepared by high internal phase emulsion polymerization (HIPE) are being investigated as improved materials for separation of heavy metals. In column flow studies, the foam monoliths have high flow rates and are durable up to at feast 40 psi. A 4-vinylpyridine functionality has been incorporated into vinylbenzylchloride/styrene copolymer foams by graft-polymerization of vinylpyridine. The open structure of the foam and the flexible graft-polymerized ion-exchange chains result in improved kinetics in metal uptake. Iron uptake kinetics were greatly increased in the grafted foams over resin beads of similar structure. Plutonium uptake kinetics were moderately increased in the foams.