INFLUENCE OF CHLOROSULFONATION ON TEXTURAL AND CHEMICAL-PARAMETERS OF STYRENE-DIVINYLBENZENE POROUS COPOLYMERS

The reaction of chlorosulfonation of styrene-divinylbenzene porous polymers as a function of their textural and chemical characteristics has been studied. Textural parameters change differently: porous volume remains constant and specific area decreases. Chemical studies show that chlorosulfonation consists of two steps. The first leads to sulfonated groups, the second is an equilibrium between sulfonated and chlorosulfonated groups. The ratio between these two groups depends on the texture of the beads. At the periphery of the bead, which is perhaps more porous than the middle, there is better byproduct elimination and so a quantitative formation of chlorosulfonated groups is observed. At the middle of the bead, diffusion of products is difficult and sulfonated groups are not transformed. In conclusion, we observe that chlorosulfonation of porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers gives a mixture of sulfonated and chlorosulfonated grafted groups. These groups present different spatial distributions depending on the texture of the starting material.