ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates the application of surface complexation theory for the interpretation of exchange equilibria of synthetic organic ion-exchange resins. Numerous investigations of liquid systems containing dissolved species have shown that there is a great variety of interactions possible between solvent and solute or between dissolved species. Within a homogeneous phase these interactions are caused by, e.g., electrostatic and van der Waals forces, heteropolar and covalent binding, or by coordination forces, and they occur regardless of whether the species are neutral or not. Ion exchangers, both inorganic and organic, are bearing excess charge within their matrices due either to substitution of structural atoms of a particular valence, e.g., Si, with atoms of a different valence, e.g., Al, or to the presence of functional sites. Organic ion-exchange resins consist of a matrix of irregular hydrocarbon chains to which the functional sites are attached.
