Phenol-formaldehyde cationic matrices substituted by sulphonated <i>Acacia nilotica </i>charcoal

Abstract

Sulphonated <i>Acacia nilotica </i>charcoal (SANC) could be used as a substituent for cation exchanger <i>viz., </i>sulphonated phenol-formaldehyde resin(SPFR). SANC was used to partly replace the polymeric matrix of<i> </i>sulphonated phenol-formaldehyde cation exchanger, by varying the substituent content of SANC. All the important<i> </i>physico-chemical, thermal and spectral characteristic properties of the composites have been determined. The cation

exchange capacity (CEC) of the composite was found to decrease with the increase in the substitution by SANC(<i>%w/w</i>) in the SPFR. It was observed that SANC retains all the properties, as compared to that of the unsubstituted phenol-formaldehyde cationic resin (PFCR). It is concluded that SANC could partly replace PFCR, upto 20% (<i>w/w</i>)<i> </i>substitution without affecting the properties of the PFCR.