Preparation and properties of magnetic-photoresponsive oil-absorption resins

A novel magnetic-photoresponsive oil-absorption resin (MPOAR) was synthesized via the suspension polymerization technique. Scanning electron microscopy surface morphology analysis indicated that the surface of MPOAR exhibited pore structures with different sizes. The effects of various factors in the preparation of MPOAR on the oil absorbency were studied. We found that the amount of the crosslinking agent 4'4-bis-(methacryloylamino) azobenzen (Azo-CL-M), porogenic agent (ethyl acetate), initiator (azobisisobutyronitrile), and modified Fe3O4 had great effects on the oil absorbencies of the prepared polymer resins. The saturated absorption capacities of MPOAR for various organic solvents were determined, and we found that MPOAR could absorb 19.7 times its dry weight in CH2Cl2, 18.4 times its dry weight in CCl4, and 16.7 times its dry weight in CHCl3, respectively. In addition, the oil-absorbent beads could absorb the oils floating on water well. In particular, the saturated absorbed MPOAR could be easily collected from water by an external magnetic field. More importantly, the photoresponsive properties of the MPOAR materials could be used to accelerate the release of the absorbed oil under UV irradiation. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.