(22c) Removal of Phenol in Water by Alpha-, Beta- and Gamma-Cyclodextrin Polymer Particles

In this work, well-defined spherical particles of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrin polymers were prepared by reverse suspension polymerization using epichlorohydrin as crosslinker. They can selectively absorb phenol by inclusion association in water and desorption in ethanol. Their adsorption capacity of phenol in water was found to be beta-CD polymer > alpha-CD polymer > gamma-CD polymer. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of phenol were analyzed according to Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The results showed that the Freundlich adsorption isotherm was more suitable to fit the experimental data. The negative value of free energy change indicated the spontaneous nature of the adsorption of phenol by all three CD polymers.