Equilibria and kinetics of phenol adsorption on a toluene-modified hyper-cross-linked poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) resin

A series of novel toluene-modified hyper-cross-linked poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) resins were synthesized and the adsorption behaviors of the synthesized resins toward phenol were investigated from aqueous solution. Among the synthesized five resins, HJ-L15 possessed the largest adsorption capacity toward phenol. The phenol adsorption onto HJ-L15 is combination of the surface adsorption and the absorption due to skeleton swelling. The molecular form of phenol was favorable for the adsorption. The isotherms could be fitted by Freundlich model and the adsorption was shown to be an exothermic process. The kinetic curves could be characterized by pseudo-second-order rate equation and the intra-particle diffusion was the rate-limiting step at the initial stage.

► As the quantity of toluene is 15% relative to the chloromethylated PS, the adsorption capacity of phenol is the largest.
► The adsorption of phenol onto HJ-L15 is the surface adsorption together with the absorption due to skeleton swelling.
► The Freundlich model depicts the adsorption isotherms well and adsorption thermodynamic parameters are all negative.
► The pseudo-second-order rate equation fits the kinetics well and the intra-particle diffusion is the rate-limiting step.