Solid tethered imino-bis-propanediol and quaternary amine functional copolymer brushes for rapid extraction of trace boron

► Dense vinylamine-DADMAC copolymer brushes can be generated on PS-DVB resin. ► Action of gylcidol yields boron specific imino bis-propanediol groups on brushes. ► The resin with 20% DADMAC brushes shows unusually high boron uptake 4 mmol g− 1 ► Removal of trace boron can be achieved within less than a minute by this resin. ► The resin material shows no capacity loss after ten times of recycling.