Synthesis of Sulphur-Containing Ionites by Means of Living Radical Copolymerization

Moulded copolymers of styrene with divinylsulphide were synthesized by means of the living radical polymerisation with N,N´-bis(vinyloxyethyl)thiuramdisulphite as an initiator without any solvents. It was shown that the formation of a polymeric body proceeds without the formation of a macrogel. Individual particles of copolymers were discovered using scanning electron microscopy. These particles are monospheroids with a size about 1 μm; they determine further formation of the moulded polymeric body as granules. Copolymer modification was carried out, ionites were obtained. The effect of the nature and concentration of acids on the extraction of silver, gold and platinum ions was established. High distribution coefficients equal to (2.0–6.5) 10 4 were obtained for the chloride complexes of gold and platinum. The possibility to use sorbents for concentrating precious metals and for analytical purposes was demonstrated. A method of sorbent regeneration was developed.