SYNOPSISA new solid extractant (designated PS-DETA-JS) in which sulfur-chlorinated jojoba wax is bound via an amine spacer group to polystyrene beads was synthesized. The absorption of mercury cations from acidic solutions and of chromate anions from saline solutions onto PS-DETA-JS was investigated. The sorption of mercury ions by the solid extractant was compared with that by liquid-sulfurized jojoba wax impregnated inside macroporous resins. The static and dynamic properties of dichromate sorption from 2-20 g/L NaCl solutions at pH 4.1 were studied. Selective sorption of Cr(VI) was obtained at low chromate concentrations ( Ç 6 ppm) in saline aqueous solutions. Complete regeneration of the PS-DETA-JS resin was achieved after the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and the elution of the Cr(III) with 1N HCl.

Jojoba wax was chemically bonded to a polystyrene matrixvia a stable C‐C covalent bond. This was achieved by binding allyl‐brominated jojoba derivatives to lithiated crosslinked polystyrene‐2% divinylbenzene or XAD‐4 polymeric beads via a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The double‐bond regions in the jojoba wax were preserved. A side reaction that accompanied the nucleophilic substitution was HBr elimination, which produced diene and triene systems in the bound jojoba. Phosphonation and sulfur chlorination at the double bonds of the jojoba wax, bonded to the polystyrene matrix, were also performed.

Jojoba wax was chemically bonded to polyethylene-in film or hollow fiber form-via a stable sulfonamide bond. The jojoba-bonded polyethylene was obtained by binding allyl amino jojoba derivatives to chlorosulfonated polyethylene. The amount of jojoba added to the polymer ranged from 9 to 98% (w/w), depending on the reaction conditions. Swelling of the polymer in the reaction solvent was the major factor affecting the efficacy of the chemical binding of the jojoba amino groups to the chlorosulfonyl entities of the polymer. The double-bond regions in the bound jojoba wax were preserved, i.e., they were shown to be reactive in a bromination reaction. These modified membranes can find application in separation processes, such as metal ion separation and pervaporation.

Jojoba wax was chemically bonded to a polymer matrixvia stable C‐N covalent bonds. The polymer matrix was prepared by amination of several types of styrene‐divinyl benzene or styrene‐vinylbenzylchloride‐divinylbenzene copolymers with diamines or polyethylene imines (polyamines). The jojoba wax was attached to the aminated polystyrene matrix by reacting an allyl‐brominated derivative of jojoba with the matrix to form a C‐N bond between the matrix and the jojoba wax. The amount of bound jojoba wax added to the polymer was in the range of 20–70% (w/w), depending on the type of polymer matrix and reaction conditions. The double‐bond regions in the jojoba wax bonded to the matrix were preserved, and they were subsequently functionalized by phosphonation and sulfur‐chlorination reactions.