Study of Zwitterionic Homopolymer Polysulfobetaine and Gel Properties in Various Solutions of Different Anion Species and Cation Valences

Abstract

Zwitterionic homopolymer polysulfobetaine (PBET) gels were synthesized using free radical polymerization. The effect of temperatures on adsorption behavior of the gel and transition temperature of the polymer in various solutions of LiCl, KCl, NaCl, Al(NO₃)₃, Zn(NO₃)₂, and NaNO₃ were studied. The tendency of poly(BET)s transition temperature in Cl solutions very identical. All of poly(BET) solution resulted in Upper Critical Temperature (UCST). Its number increased along with the elevation of salt concentration. The number declined again when the concentration was too high. BET gel successfully adsorbed various ions with the amount of adsorption tendency of LiCl < NaCl < KCl.