| Abstract: | The adsorption of a series of block and random styrene–methyl methacrylate copolymers on an animal charcoal and on Graphon has been studied. On charcoal, adsorption decreases with increase of molecular weight because of the inability of larger coils to penetrate into the adsorbent. An analysis is presented which requires that coils undergo considerable distortion on adsorption in pores. The adsorption of random copolymers on Graphon is also in reverse order of molecular weight; this effect may be due to particle bridging leading to the formation of interparticle “pores.” The relative affinity of the styrene and methyl methacrylate residues is different on charcoal and Graphon, respectively; on both surfaces, however, relatively few of the more active residues are required for adsorption. Block and random copolymers are adsorbed to different extents which depend on the nature of the adsorbent surface. |
