Functionalized cotton via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization for enhanced sorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II)

- The aminated and polyacrylic acid sodium-grafted cottons are successfully prepared by surface-initiated ATRP.
- The grafted long polymers with high density of amine and carboxyl groups are responsible for the enhanced sorption of Cu(II) and Pb(II).
- The maximum sorption capacities of Cu(II) and Pb(II) on the P(AA-Na)-grafted cotton are 2.45 and 2.44 mmol/g, respectively.