Utilization of recycled polypropylene-acrylate grafted nonwoven for the removal of oil from water.

To solve water pollution caused by oil spillage, a new sorbent was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization. Acrylate monomer was introduced to polypropylene nonwoven and hydrophobic groups were introduced by the grafting method. The grafting degree of sorbent was determined as a function of monomer concentration and solvent solubility for monomer. Fourier transform-infrared spectra and static contact angle measurements were used to characterize the chemical changes of the polypropylene nonwoven surface. The grafted sorbent showed a fast sorption rate and a maximum sorption capacity of 13.56 g/g for diesel oil, while the original polypropylene nonwoven was only 7.48 g/g. In addition, retention measurement and the reusability test were conducted to evaluate the suitability of the polypropylene-acrylate grafted nonwoven for the treatment of oil spillage. Water Environ. Res., 84, 719 (2012).