Preparation and characterization of polyphenylene sulfide-based chelating fibers

Abstract

A series of novel chelating fibers containing sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen heteroatoms were prepared via the functionalization of chloromethylated polyphenylene sulfide (CMPPS). The structures, micromorphology and physicochemical properties of these fibrous adsorptive materials were characterized by FT-IR, elementary analysis, TG and SEM–EDS. The results show that chelating fibers had high functional group contents (3.94 mmol/g for thiourea, 3.85 mmol/g for mercapto, 5.00 mmol/g for methylamine and 6.07 mmol/g for ethylenediamine, respectively). Owing to the unique matrix of polyphenylene sulfide fiber, these fibrous adsorbents possess excellent thermostability. This synthetic method proved a simple and efficient way for the preparation of chelating fibers.