| Abstract: | A number of pesticide monomers containing pentachlorophenol as active group attached to vinyl groups, through oxyethylene as spacer group, have been prepared. The resulting monomers were homopolymerized under free-radical conditions and also copolymerized with styrene and 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate to introduce hydrophobic and hydrophilic nature to the resulting polymers. In addition, crosslinked copolymers were prepared by using different ratios of divinylbenzene. Data on the pentachlorophenol released through hydrolysis show that the degree of crosslinking, the hydrophilicity and the spacer group, as determined by the chemical structure and the polymer composition, as well as the pH, time and temperature appear to be major factors governing the rate at which a given polymer undergoes hydrolysis. |
