Progress on the Application of Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity for the Adsorption of Organic Contaminants

Abstract

This review reports the progress on the utilizationof polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) for the adsorption of pharmaceuticals (PCs) and organic dyes. PIMs are exceptional porous organic polymers that possess copious contortion sites and rigid fused-ring structures induced by spirocentric molecules (two cyclic rings sharing one tetrahedral carbon). The availability of these contortion sites inhibits bond flexibility, bond rotation, and structural relaxation of PIMs in their solid state. This has led to the intrinsic microporosity, high Brunauer–Emmett-Teller and Barrett–Joyner-Halenda surface areas, pore radii, pore volumes, high permeability, high diffusivity, high selectivity, and high thermal stability. PIMs comprise a cascade of girthy ladder-like building blocks connected to the spirocentre as a result of inflexible backbone stereochemistry. Research progress has shown from a thorough literature survey that the adsorptive properties of PIMs and their functionalized analogs have not been extensively explored for the removal of PCs and organic dyes in contaminated water. To date, there exists scanty literature on the adsorption of PCs in contaminated water. In prospect, research efforts have to be intensified so as to establish vast applications of PIMs for the treatment of water contaminated with PCs and organic dyes.