Crosslinked PS-DVB microspheres with sulfonated polystyrene brushes as new generation of ion exchange resins Original Research Article

Generation of sulfonated linear polystyrene brushes on poly (styrene–divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) microspheres and their ion exchange characteristics are reported, for the first time. Two resin materials bearing different chain lengths of sulfonated linear polystyrene brushes were prepared by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene from PS-DVB microbeads (210–420 μm) and followed sulfonation. Bromoacetyl groups (0.81 mmol g− 1) incorporated to the microbeads via acetoxymercuration route were employed as ATRP initiating sites to create non-hydrolyzable linkages between the PS graft chains and bead core. The standard analytical methods and FT-IR spectroscopy techniques were used for characterization of the materials.