| Abstract: | The relative micro and macro pore volumes and the macro pore size distribution were used to characterize the pore structure of ion exchangers. The evaluation of these from density measurements and mercury penetration measurements was described for a sulphonated macro reticular ion exchange resin in the swollen state with different contents of swelling agent. On taking up water the dry volume of the exchange resin increased (swelling) until a water content of about 33 wt.-% was reached. Additional water filled up the macro pores to a final content of 58 wt.-%. With the specific volume of the exchange resin in the swollen state in addition to the specific volume of the gel phase, the relative macro pore volume of the fully swollen state was evaluated. The results of the mercury penetration method agreed with those of the density measurements taking into account the compressibility of the mercury itself and those of the swelling agent and the matrix. Corresponding correction factors could be evaluated from measurements on micro reticular ion exchange resins. The mercury penetration measurements provided additional information on the macro pore size distribution of the swollen state. For the examined ion exchange resins a logarithmic standard distribution with an arithmetically weighed mean pore radius of about 1 100 Å was evaluated. The relative over-all pore volume of 0,65 was not identical with the value of 0,61 for the partition coefficient of ethylene glycol from dilute aqueous solutions, as only that part of the water, which is bound to the sulphonic groups (hydrated water), could be exchanged by ethylene glycol. Pure ethylene glycol substituted the hydrated water completely. The specific volume of the exchange resin thereby decreased in comparison to that of the water-swollen state. |
