Water and Oil Dual-Absorption Composite Resins Prepared from High Internal Phase Emulsion

Novel composite resins with dual absorption properties of water and oil are prepared by the polymerization of high internal phase emulsion (HIPEs) with n-butyl methacrylate as the external phase monomer and acrylamide as the internal phase monomer. The subsequent polymerization leads to the formation of water and oil dual-absorption composite resins. The morphology of porous structure and microcosmic phase separation after water/oil uptake is observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water and oil absorbency strongly depend on composition. The composites with saturated water uptake could absorb the chloroform again but cant absorb water if saturated with chloroform first. And the resins exhibit great reusability, keeping almost constant absorbency. The present methodology could be a potential approach to obtain amphiphilic composites, which possess potential applications in the bioengineering, medical and industrial fields.