Hayal Bulbul Sonmez

Poly(alkoxysilane) reusable organogels for removal of oil/organic solvents from water surface

Novel poly(alkoxysilane)s with high oil and organic solvent absorbencies were prepared by a bulk polymerization technique via the condensation of 1,3-benzenedimethanol with different lengths of alkoxysilanes at 160 °C without using a catalyst. The influence of the length of the alkoxysilane on the polymer properties and swelling ratios was investigated. Swelling experiments in various solvents indicated that these cross-linked poly(alkoxysilane)s can be used as absorbents for oils and oil-derived organic solvents. The swelling features of the poly(alkoxysilane)s were determined by solvent absorption tests, swelling kinetics experiments, and desorption kinetics measurements. The absorption capacities of the poly(alkoxysilane)s were 50-725% for various organic solvents and oil derivatives such as gasoline and diesel. The structural and thermal properties of the cross-linked poly(alkoxysilane) polymers were determined by FTIR, solid-state (13)C and (29)Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) NMR, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).

Sorption behavior of polymeric gels based on alkoxysilane and aliphatic diol

We describe a convenient method for the synthesis of a series of cross-linked polyalkoxysilanes based on condensations of n-octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) with linear aliphatic diol monomers. The cross-linked polymers possessed moderate thermal stability and good, regenerable solvent absorption features and were effective in removing organic waste liquids from water. The polymers were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state CPMAS 13C and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and elemental analysis. Determination of the swelling ability of the cross-linked polymers was examined by the swelling test, swelling, and desorption kinetics. The effect of the hydrophobicity of the aliphatic diol monomers on the polymer properties and solvent absorption capability was also examined.

Cross-linked poly(tetrahydrofuran) as promising sorbent for organic solvent/oil spill

In this study, a series of different molecular weights of poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF), which is one of the most important commercial polymers around the world, was condensed with tris[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]isocyanurate (ICS) to generate a cross-linked 3-dimensional network in order to obtain organic solvent/oil sorbents having high swelling capacity. The prepared sorbents show high and fast swelling capacity in oils such as dichloromethane (DCM), tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetone, t-butyl methyl ether (MTBE), gasoline, euro diesel, and crude oil. The recovery of the absorbed oils from contaminated surfaces, especially from water, and the regeneration of the sorbents after several applications are effective. The characterization and thermal properties of the sorbents are identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state (13)C and (29)Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), respectively. The new usage area of PTHF is emerged by the preparation of PTHF-based network structure with high oil absorption capacity and having excellent reusability as an oil absorbent for the removal of organic liquids from the spill site.

Synthesis, characterization and properties of novel polyspiroacetals

In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of a new series of spiropolymers which are a subclass of ladder polymers. For the synthesis of spiropolymers, multihydroxy functional monomers have been synthesized and allowed to react with 1,4 cyclohexanedicarbaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst to give new polyspiroacetals. In order to understand polymer structure, model compounds of each polymer were synthesized and characterized. The effects of different multihydroxy monomers on the properties of the resulting polymers have been examined. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), termogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. The spiropolymers are thermally stable and have a high degree of chemical stability. They are completely soluble in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and can be recovered from this solvent.

Oil loving hydrophobic gels made from glycerol propoxylate: Efficient and reusable sorbents for oil spill clean-up

Glycerol propoxylate based oil loving sorbents were prepared through bulk polymerization, without using of an activator, initiator, or catalyst. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C and 29Si CPMAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), as well as elemental analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were operated in order to identify the structural and thermal features of sorbents. The synthesized gels were employed as absorbents for various organic solvents and oils. The swelling capacity, absorption-desorption kinetics, reusability, and selective removal from an oil/water mixture were also examined. To explore the effects of a crosslinkers concentration on oil absorption capacity, star type propoxylate monomers were reacted at different concentration of tris[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]isocyanurate (ICS) crosslinker; swelling capacity was calculated using dichloromethane as an organic solvent. Oil removal ability from the water surface is another important section contained within this article.

Effective clean-up of organic liquid contaminants including BTEX, fuels, and organic solvents from the environment by poly(alkoxysilane) sorbents

Novel cross-linked poly(alkoxysilane)s, which can be used for the removal of organic liquid contaminants from water, were synthesized in one step, in a solvent free reaction medium, at moderately high temperature without using a catalyst. The synthesized polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state (13)C and (29)Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods and elemental analysis. The swelling features of the poly(alkoxysilane)s were investigated in organic solvents and oils, such as dichloromethane, benzene, toluene, xylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether, and also some fuel derivatives, such as gasoline and euro diesel. All polymers have high-fast solvent uptake abilities, good reusability and thermal stability. The swelling features of the synthesized cross-linked polymers were evaluated by the swelling test, absorption-desorption kinetics. Thus, the results propose that cross-linked poly(alkoxysilane)s are suitable for the absorption of oil-organic pollutants from the water surface.

Organic–inorganic hybrid gels for the selective absorption of oils from water

Organic–inorganic hybrid gels were synthesized by the condensation of a linear aliphatic diol (1,8-octanediol) and altering the chain length of the alkyltriethoxysilanes (from ethyltriethoxysilane to hexadecyltrimethoxysilane) through a bulk polymerization process without using any initiator, activator, catalyst, or solvent for the selective removal of oils from water. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid-state 13C and 29Si cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS NMR) were used for the structural analysis of hybrid gels. Thermal properties of the hybrid gels were determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Oil absorbency of organic–inorganic hybrid gels was determined by oil absorption tests. The results showed that hybrid gels have high and fast absorption capacities and excellent reusability. Good selectivity, high thermal stability, low density, and excellent recyclability for the oil removal give the material potential applications.

Star PEG-based amphiphilic polymers: synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviors

This paper describes the preparation, characterization and application of pentaerythritol ethoxylate-based crosslinked polymers as sorbent materials for a variety of liquids. A bulk polymerization method has been employed to produce amphiphilic polymeric sorbents in a solvent-free medium at moderately high temperature that does not require any initiator, catalyst or an activator. The morphological, structural and thermal properties of amphiphilic polymeric sorbents were determined by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C and 29Si CPMAS nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscope and thermal gravimetric analysis. Having hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions in the polymeric structure, the obtained sorbents have affinity toward both water and organic liquids. The effect of molecular weight of monomers on absorption ability was examined via swelling test. The swelling ability in binary mixtures was also studied to determine the absorption capacity of polymers in organic solvent–water mixtures. Absorption studies, absorption–desorption kinetics and reusability tests were also operated, and the experimental outcomes showed that the obtained polymers have high and quick absorption abilities and also can be reusable with no capacity loss in oils.

Cellulose-Based Hydrogels for Water Treatment

Lakes, rivers, sea, groundwater, drinking water basins, etc. are the main water sources which can increasingly be polluted by commercial and industrial establishments or human activities. The most existing types of contaminants that pollute these water sources are dye-containing effluents and toxic heavy metals which they affect living being’s life catastrophically. Various methods have been applied to get rid of these kinds of toxic pollutants from water sources such as reverse osmosis, chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, coagulation, ion exchange, electrochemical treatment, and adsorption. Among these methods, adsorption is quite effective and economic method for the removal of toxic pollutants. Hydrogels that can be described as 3D network of hydrophilic polymer chains cross-linked chemically or physically which are able to soak and release a significant amount of water while preserving their network structure from dissolution in aqueous media, and they can be applied in many fields I. Yati · S. Kizil · H. Bulbul Sonmez (*) Department of Chemistry, Gebze Technical University, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey e-mail: hayalsonmez@gtu.edu.tr # Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018 Md. I. H. Mondal (ed.), Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels, Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76573-0_33-1 1 including tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound dressing, food, cosmetics, contact lenses, sensors, and water treatment. Hydrogels are excellent candidate to remove toxic pollutants by adsorption due to their high absorption capacity, porous structure, rich functional groups, and relatively low crystallinity. These hydrogels can be composed of petroleum-derived synthetic polymers, natural occurring materials, or composition of both synthetic and natural materials. Hydrogels that prepared from natural materials are preferred by their low cost and biodegradability and easily available from plenty of resources. To prepare hydrogels, a wide range of synthetic and natural materials have been used, such as cellulose, chitin, and chitosan for natural materials; polyethylene glycol and poly (sodium acrylate) for synthetic materials can be given as an example. Among them, cellulose is a well-known naturally found linear homopolymer having consecutive glucose units connected by glucosidic bond. The use of cellulosebased hydrogels is gaining popularity because of their several advantages such as environmental friendliness, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, easy availability, high abundance, low cost, and thermal and chemical stability for water treatment applications. Therefore, cellulose-based hydrogels have been attracted much attention in both academic and industrial applications including drug delivery, hygiene products, medicine, and water purification technologies. Among these applications, the use of cellulose-based hydrogels for water treatments has been discussed in this chapter.