Universal Platform Based on Polystyrene Resin for the Selective Catalytic Epoxidation of FAME with Hydrogen Peroxide and Water Purification

The paper describes the synthesis and application of a universal polymeric matrix containing charged quaternary ammonium groups. The proposed polymers demonstrate an efficiency advantage over existing, narrow-spectrum materials, both in the sorption of anionic dyes and in the catalytic epoxidation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) where the resin is used as a support for the immobilization of polyoxometalate complexes. In the latter case, a high degree of immobilization of the tungsten peroxo complex (PW4) on the polymer support (over 50%) is observed, significantly exceeding the analogous values of the competing existing heterogeneous supports. Furthermore, virtually 100% epoxide selectivity is observed during FAME epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide without the use of organic solvents. Using the same starting resin (without polyoxometalate complexes) to purify aqueous dye solutions, the heterogeneous sorbent demonstrated an unprecedented high capacity for sulfate dyes such as Acid Green 50, exceeding 2000 g per 1 kg of the sorbent. The results of this study are of practical interest due to the synthesis of a universal insoluble polymer matrix using commercial, large-scale monomers: styrene, glycidyl methacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.