Synthesis and application of cotton-based chelate fibers grafted with poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) side chains

Cotton-based chelate fibers grafted with poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVTAZ) side chains were synthesized facilely by ozone-induced graft polymerization of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole (VTAZ) monomer onto cotton fibers. The synthesis conditions were optimized to improve the yield and mechanical strength of the products. The obtained cotton-g-PVTAZ fibers were characterized and evaluated for batch adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity of Ag(I), Pb(II), and Cu(II) on the fibers at pH 6.8 was 522, 330, and 184 mg/g, respectively. At 30% graft yield, the Young's modulus of cotton fiber increased about 26.5%, and its adsorption capacities of Ag(I), Pb(II), and Cu(II) increased about 2.6, 1.9, and 1.4 times, respectively. After washed with 0.1 mol/L HNO3 solutions, the adsorbed metal ions were eluted, and the regenerated cotton-g-PVTAZ fibers could be used repeatedly for water treatment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41617.