Development of an Adsorbent for Bisphenol A Based on a Polymer Grafted from Microcrystalline Cellulose

Abstract

We aimed to develop a sustainable adsorbent for bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor that seriously threatens human health. First, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was reacted with 2-bromoisobutyrylbromide to obtain a surface initiator (SI) for the grafting of polystyrene (PS), poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA), and poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDM) through ARGET-ATRP. These polymers may have favorably interacted with BPA, which led to its removal. SIs were characterized by FTIR and XPS to corroborate the grafting of 2-bromoisobutyryl and determine its abundance. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated retained crystal morphology with decreased MCC crystallinity. FTIR, thermogravimetric, and elemental analyses confirmed the grafting of MCC with polymers and revealed their composition. PS and PLMA had a minor effect on the crystallinity and morphology of MCC microfibers, whereas grafting PDM decreased the crystallinity of cellulose and the particle size. MCC grafted with polymers were tested as adsorbents of BPA by measuring the equilibrium uptake and removal through column filtration. PDM was found to endow cellulose with superior capacity of removing BPA, which was enhanced with increased amount of grafted polymer. A comparison of MCC grafted with PDM with activated carbon as adsorbents of BPA suggested the superior performance of the developed materials based on the largest maximum uptake.