Novel polyelectrolyte gels as absorbent polymers for nonpolar organic solvents based on polymerizable ionic liquids

Novel class of polyelectrolyte gels based on the copolymer of vinylimidazolium-typed ionic liquid monomer and Dodecyl methacrylate was prepared by free radical polymerization. A small amount of 3-n-Dodecyl-1-vinylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate is incorporated into crosslinked polyacrylates to provide new lipophilic polyelectrolyte gels that evaluated for swelling in less-polar and nonpolar organic solvents. Their swelling degree becomes more than 50 times as much as their dried weights in some organic solvents. By varying the polarity of the neutral monomer in these polyelectrolyte gels, the design of gels that can absorb solvents of nearly any polarity is demonstrated. The present absorbents are expected to find practical applications particularly in the recovery of spilled oils and the treatment of waste water. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.