Synthesis and utilization of poly (methylmethacrylate) nanocomposites based on modified montmorillonite

Poly (methylmethacrylate) nanocomposite was prepared via in-situ emulsion polymerization (PMMA/Mt-CTA). The modified montmorillonite (Mt-CTA) is used as hosts for the preparation of poly (methylmethacrylate) nanocomposites with basal distance 1.95 nm. Moreover, exfoliated nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The fashioned nanocomposites exhibited better thermal stability than pristine PMMA which make it suitable for packaging applications. Furthermore, this nanocomposite reveals tremendous affinity for removing pesticides from aquatic solutions. The data obtained from GC/ECD gas liquid chromatography illustrated that the removal efficiency of PMMA/Mt-CTA nanocomposites for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) varied from 73.65% to 99.36% that make it as a new method for water treatment. Also, the antimicrobial activity of the Mt-CTA and PMMA/Mt-CTA nanocomposites was evaluated by the inhibitory zone tests and revealed good activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which makes it suitable materials for packaging applications.