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Electrospun , crown ether functionalized PS-b-PMAA block copolymer fibers for Li extraction from aqueous media
Crown ether-functionalized polystyrene-block-poly(methacrylic acid) copolymers form lithium (Li) complexes with ML or ML₂ stoichiometry. The extraction efficiency can be tuned by the choice of crown ether; benzo-9-crown-3, 12-crown-4, and benzo-12-crown-4 were evaluated. To enhance Li uptake in the solid material, electrospun fibers with a high surface-to-volume ratio were fabricated. Li selectivity over sodium and overall uptake performance were assessed via solid–liquid extraction. A material based on benzo-12-crown-4 demonstrated the highest Li capacity (up to 1.9·10−4 ± 2.4·10−5 mmol Li/g polymer) and excellent selectivity, enabling efficient extraction without the need for organic solvents.
