Porous organic polymers: Structure, surface chemistry and adsorption of certain gases

Abstract The adsorption capacity of porous polymers, particularly macroporous anionites, depends on the polymer geometric structure and surface chemistry. This review discusses the effect of the conditions of synthesis, the nature and content of the crosslinking and the porogenic agents on the geometric structure of porous polymers and their adsorption capacity with regard to certain gases (CO 2 , H 2 S, SO 2 , NO 2 , SiF 4 ). The adsorption capacity increases with the number of active functional groups in the polymer (provided they are accessible to the adsorbate molecules). Heats of gas adsorption by polymers containing different functional groups are reported and the mechanism of adsorption is discussed. It is shown that adsorption of chemically active gases may involve formation of weak chemical bonds between the gas molecules and the corresponding functional groups of the polymer. Adsorption of gases as affected by that of water and pre-moistening of porous polymers is considered.