Polyfurfuryl alcohol composite as adsorbent of polychlorinated biphenyls and pyrethroid insecticides

Composites from furfuryl alcohol and silica gel were prepared in dichloromethane using trifluoroacetic acid as catalyst and characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The polymer content in the composites ranged between 19.5% and 32.9%. The capability to adsorb polychlorinated biphenyls and pyrethroid insecticides was tested for composite samples containing different percentages of polymer. Pyrethroids are retained almost totally by composites containing around 24-33% of polymer, while recovery of PCBs close to 80% is obtained with all the composites. No selectivity between compounds of the same family was observed.