Ion exchange material prepared from partially pyrolyzed macroporous polymer particles

A process for preparing functionalized carbonaceous particles useful as selective adsorbents, ion exchange materials or precursors thereof, which process comprises reacting, at a temperature from about room temperature to about 500.degree. C., a reagent selected from the group consisting of halogen gas, sulfuryl halide, halosulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, bis-halomethylmethyl ether, and N-hydroxymethyl-N-alkylformamides, with carbonaceous, macroporous polymer adsorbent particles which

• (a) comprise the product of controlled thermal degradation at a temperature from about 300.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C., of a macroporous, synthetic polymer containing macropores ranging from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension and containing a carbon-fixing moiety,
• (b) are derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, or monomers which may be condensed to yield macroporous polymers, or mixtures thereof, one of the monomers being styrene, and
• (c) have at least 85% by weight of carbon, multimodal pore distribution with macropores ranging in size from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension, and a carbon-to-hydrogen atom ratio of between about 1.5:1 and about 20:1.

A process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting the solution, for sufficient time to permit ion exchange, with macroporous, carbonaceous, particles bearing ion exchange functional groups, the particles being derived from carbonaceous, macroporous polymer adsorbent particles which

• (a) comprise the product of controlled thermal degradation, at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C., of a macroporous, synthetic polymer containing macropores ranging from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension and containing a carbon-fixing moiety,
• (b) are themselves derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, or monomers which may be condensed to yield macroporous polymers, or mixtures thereof, one of the monomers being styrene, and
• (c) have at least 85% by weight of carbon, multimodal pore distribution with macropores ranging in size from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension, and a carbon-to-hydrogen atom ratio of between about 1.5:1 and about 20:1.

A process for removing organic vapors from air which comprises contacting the air containing organic vapors with macroporous, carbonaceous particles bearing ion exchange functional groups, the particles being derived from carbonaceous, macroporous polymer adsorbent particles which

• (a) comprise the product of controlled thermal degradation at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 800.degree. C. of a macroporous synthetic polymer containing macropores ranging from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension and containing a carbon-fixing moiety,
• (b) are themselves derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, or monomers which may be condensed to yield macroporous polymers, or mixtures thereof, one of the monomers being styrene, and
• (c) have at least 85% by weight of carbon, multimodal pore distribution with macropores ranging in size from about 5 to about 10,000 nanometers in average critical dimension, and a carbon-to-hydrogen atom ratio of between about 1.5:1 and about 20:1.