Synthesis and adsorption behaviors of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brushes on silica particles by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

• PDMAEMA brushes were successfully synthesized onto silica particles by SI-ATRP.
• For the resulting polymer brushes, much greater ESR is observed at pH 5 than at pH 9.
• Adsorption amount of PDMAEMA-g-SiO2 is much higher than that of original silica.
• The adsorption process is strongly dependent on the different pH values.

Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) brushes on the surface of silica particles were synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The resulting brushes were analyzed and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). Equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) was employed to assess the pH and temperature sensitive behaviors of the resulting PDMAEMA brushes, and much greater ESR was observed at pH 5 than at pH 9. Furthermore, the adsorption behaviors of PDMAEMA brushes for heavy metal ions (Cr(VI)) were investigated, and obvious pH responsive equilibrium adsorption amount was observed.

PDMAEMA brushes have been successfully synthesized on the surface of silica particles by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. Compared to the original silica particles, a much higher equilibrium adsorption amount of heavy metal ions was found for the resulting PDMAEMA-g-SiO2 brushes, and the adsorption process is strongly dependent on different pH values.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide