A new thermoset for separation of polystyrene and naphthalene in preparative chromatography Wesley de Oliveira Rosa, Vagner R. Botaro Universidade Federal de S~ ao Carlos—UFSCar campus de Sorocaba, CCTS/DQFM Rodovia Jo~ ao, Leme dos Santos Km 110, Sorocaba, SP, CEP 18052-780, Brazil Correspondence to: V. R. Botaro (E - mail: vagner@ufscar.br or vagnerbotaro@gmail.com) ABSTRACT: Many research groups in recent years have demonstrated the importance of obtaining new materials and reducing envi- ronmental impact. In this context, the chemical modification of cellulose and its derivatives has received much attention. This study synthesized cellulose acetate gel (CAMDIH) obtained through the modification of cellulose acetate (CA) with a degree of substitution of 2.5, by crosslinking reactions using 4,4 0 -diphenylmethane diisocyanate in homogeneous medium. The formation of crosslinks were observed by the presence of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy absorption bands at 3046 and 864 cm 21 , which correspond to the absorption of aromatic groups associated with the incorporation of 4,4 0 -diphenylmethane diisocyanate in the CA structure. The potential applications of the gel as a stationary phase were tested using column chromatography in the fractionation and separation of standard solutions of polystyrene and naphthalene. The findings showed the effectiveness of the gel as a stationary state in the sep- aration of mixture compounds. Furthermore, the study found that CAMDHI is an innovative material when considering its simple synthesis and the low costs involved in the process. V C 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46063. KEYWORDS: biopolymers and renewable polymers; cellulose and other wood products; spectroscopy; swelling; thermosets Received 5 May 2017; accepted 15 November 2017 DOI: 10.1002/app.46063 INTRODUCTION Cellulose acetate (CA) is produced from the acetylation of cellu- lose and is the most commercially important derivative of cellu- lose. The degree of substitution (DS) can be controlled and some important products are commercials. CA can be used in a variety of processes such as nano filtration and reverse osmosis, and in the production of numerous materials, such as dialysis membranes, matrices for the controlled release of drugs, fabrics for the textile industry, packaging, photographic films, and ciga- rette filters. 1 In recent years, our research group has specialized in preparing polymeric networks known as gels, derived from commercial CA and used in a range of important applica- tions. 2–4 The gels are polymeric networks formed by covalent bonds or physical interactions between constituent chains, and they can be obtained from natural or synthetic polymers. The links between polymer chains can be of first-order and involve chemical modifications of functional groups or of second-order and involve polar groups or hydrogen bonds. 3 Many past stud- ies have demonstrated important applications for the gels in general 5–7 and specifically for those obtained from cellulose derivatives such as CA. 1–4 Recent research in hydrogels has focused on finding materials that are biocompatible and for application in the fields of pharmaceutics, medicine, and nutrition. 6 However, no studies have yet described the use of gels prepared with CA as stationary phases in chromatography columns. Therefore, the use of new stationary phases in prepar- ative gel permeation chromatography (GPC) prepared by cross- linking reactions involving CA and MDI presents an innovative and new polymer for use in this context. In 2009, Botaro et al. 1 described the synthesis of superabsorbent hydrogels based on CA with DS 2.5 and crosslinked with benzophenone-3,3 0 4,4 0 -tetracarboxylic dianhydride. The study evaluated the influence of the concentration of reagents in the structure of hydrogels and the relationship between thermal behavior and the density of crosslinks present in hydrogels. In 2012, Dantas and Botaro 2 studied the absorption and controlled release of the common herbicide Paraquat using hydrogels derived from CA propionate and CA. In 2010, Oliveira et al. 7 described the synthesis of CA hydrogels crosslinked with pyro- mellitic dianhydride. The author investigated the influence of the concentration of pyromellitic dianhydride, as well as the influence of the increase in the degree of crosslinking on the thermal behavior of the material. The study constructed water absorption isotherms using Schott’s second-order equation. In 2014 and 2015, 3,4 Senna et al. developed hydrogels that were prepared from CA, with crosslinked DS 2.5 and V C 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. APPL. POLYM. SCI. 2018, DOI: 10.1002/APP.46063 46063 (1 of 10)