Synthesis of Glux based polymers for removal of benzene derivatives and pesticides from water

In this study, biomass-derived Glux was used as a monomer in the polymerization of a novel semi-aromatic polyethersulfone and polyester. The characterization of the synthesized polymers was carried out by means of MALDI-TOF and NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. These two polymers were tested as sorbent phases of two families of pollutants (benzene derivatives and pesticides) in water. The analysis of the target hydrophilic pollutants was successfully achieved using high performance liquid chromatography meanwhile gas chromatography was applied for the detection of the hydrophobic pollutants. The adsorption data demonstrate that the novel polyethersulfone based on Glux can effectively remove the studied organic pollutants (polar and non polar, 90% to 100%) at environmental concentration (tested concentration: 1 mg L-1) simultaneously when present in mixtures.