Renewable Microspheres Constructed by Methyl Isoeugenol-Derived Copolymers

Biobased polymers have gathered a lot of interest and are currently attracting ever-increasing attention. However, polymeric microspheres especially those derived from biomasses of small molecules, have not been extensively explored yet. This contribution reports recent exciting success in designing and preparing methyl isoeugenol (MeIE)-derived renewable microspheres. Owing to the difficulty in homopolymerizing MeIE, it undergoes precipitation copolymerization with maleic anhydride to form the anticipated copolymeric microspheres in a high yield (both cross-linked and non-cross-linked). The copolymers show high heat resistance, and the microspheres can be easily functionalized by taking advantage of the highly reactive anhydride groups. A novel type of cation exchange microspheres is further prepared by transforming the anhydride groups into carboxyl groups through hydrolyzation. The hydrolyzed microspheres demonstrate remarkable adsorption toward Cu2+ (maximum, 300 mg g(-1)). Accordingly, the microspheres may find practical applications, e.g., as green adsorbents. The established preparing methodology can also be taken for other bio-phenylpropenes.