Functionalization of polystyrene and its use as an adsorptive material

Abstract

The contamination of water resources, particularly by emerging organic contaminants, presents significant environmental and health concerns worldwide. Insufficient wastewater treatment processes contribute to the presence of these contaminants that are typically found in trace amounts in the environment, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Polymer-based adsorptive materials offer a promising solution for this challenge. This thesis investigates the functionalization of polystyrene, a commonly used polymer, for its potential application as an adsorbent for emerging organic contaminants, with a main focus on pharmaceuticals naproxen and diclofenac.

The literature review provides a comprehensive investigation of emerging organic contaminants, with particular emphasis on pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest and the most problematic class of emerging organic contaminants known for their adverse effects on the environment and challenges in wastewater treatment. Polymer chemistry has gained scientific interest for decades and is now increasingly recognized for its potential in water purification applications.

In the experimental part of this master’s thesis, polystyrene underwent functionalization via Friedel-Crafts acylation where succinic anhydride was substituted onto the aromatic ring of polystyrene. The success of this process was evaluated using solid-state characterization techniques including NMR, FTIR, and TGA, while the degree of functionalization was quantified through acid-base back titration. The functionalized polystyrene material was assessed for its adsorption capacity towards naproxen and diclofenac, two commonly known and widely used pharmaceuticals, using UHPLC-MS.