The kinetics of cation exchange in network calyxarene-containing polymers: the nanoreactor effect

The kinetics of cation exchange from aqueous solutions of electrolytes in network calyxarene-containing polymers with sulfo acid and phenol ionic groups was studied. It was shown that the interaction of the polymers with aqueous solutions of LiCl, NaCl, AgNO₃, LiOH, NaOH, and (CH₃)₄NOH was controlled by ion diffusion in the polymer phase. The nanoreactor effect, that is, a significant increase in the ion exchange rate in sulfonated calyxarene-containing polymers, was observed. The spherical layer model was used to obtain an analytic dependence of conversion on the interdiffusion coefficient and ion exchange duration in bifunctional cationites.