SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF A BI-FUNCTIONAL SORBENT DERIVED FROM ETHYLACRYLATE-DIVINYLBENZENE COPOLYMER FOR THE SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION OF PESTICIDES FROM WATER

A bi-functional sorbent derived from ethylacrylate-divinylbenzene copolymer was synthesized in beaded form by a suspension polymerization technique. Unlike conventional alkaline hydrolysis of the copolymer, a novel hydrolysis technique was used in this study and the copolymer was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid. More than 70% of the ester groups were converted into –COOH groups and about 60% of the aromatic rings in the copolymer were introduced by –SO3H groups. The synthesized copolymer was used as a solid-phase material for extraction of pesticides from water samples. Recoveries of five pesticides, namely, chlorfenvinfos, endosulfan sulfate, chlorpyrifos, fenvalerate, and diuron, were compared to those using commercially available silica-based C-18 sorbent. The recoveries obtained with the synthesized sorbent were low compared to commercial C18 cartridge. However, the synthesized polymer is cost effective and can be reused. Three extraction cycles did not affect the % recoveries of the studied p...