Preparation of Highly Oil-Absorbing Resins Consisting of Hollow Nanoparticle Aggregates by Spray Drying

We report on the preparation of a novel poly(styrene-dodecyl methacrylate) (P(St-DMA)) absorbent resin by spray drying. The microstructures of the prepared resins have been examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), showing that the resins consisted of hollow micrometer-sized spheres that were aggregated by nano-particles. Meanwhile, the effects of the content of the cross-linker divinybenzene (DVB) on the oil absorption capacity, the desorption efficiency and the resin microstructures have also been studied. The absorption performance and the hydrophobic properties of the resins prepared by spray drying and vacuum drying have been studied and compared.