Radiation grafted adsorbents for newly emerging environmental applications

• Single route employing RIG is used to address emerging environmental applications.
• RIG of GMA onto PP/PE nonwoven sheet followed by functionalization is investigated.
• Boron chelating adsorbent is obtained by treating grafted poly-GMA–PP/PE with NMDG.
• Adsorbent for CO2 capturing is prepared by treating grafted poly-GMA–PP/PE with TEA.
• Biodiesel basic catalyst is obtained by amination and alkalization of poly-GMA–PP/PE.

Radiation induced grafting (RIG) is acquired to prepare a number of adsorbents for newly emerging environmental applications using a single route involving RIG of glycidymethacrylate (GMA) onto polyethylene–polypropylene (PE–PP) non-woven fabric. The grafted fabric was subjected to one of three functionalization reactions to impart desired ionic characters. This included treatment with (1) N-dimethyl-d-glucamine, (2) triethylamine and (3) triethylamine and alkalisation with KOH. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to study the changes in chemical and physical structures of the obtained fibrous adsorbents. The potential applications of the three adsorbents for removal of boron from solutions, capturing CO2 from CO2/N2 mixtures and catalysing transesterification of triacetin/methanol to methyl acetate (biodiesel) were explored. The obtained fibrous adsorbents provide potential alternatives to granular resins for the investigated applications and require further development.