Cotton fabric functionalized with a β-cyclodextrin polymer captures organic pollutants from contaminated air and water

Diego M. Alzate-Sánchez, Brian J. Smith, Alaaeddin Alsbaiee, Juan P. Hinestroza*, William R. Dichtel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cotton fabric is covalently functionalized with a porous β-cyclodextrin polymer by including the fabric in the polymerization mixture. The resulting functionalized fabric (CD-TFP@cotton) sequesters organic micropollutants, such as bisphenol A, from water with outstanding speed and a capacity 10-fold higher than that of untreated cotton. The functionalized fabric also readily captures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the vapor phase more quickly and with a capacity higher than that of untreated cotton as well as three commercially available fabric-based adsorbents. Volatile adsorbed pollutants were fully extracted from CD-TFP@cotton under reduced pressure at room temperature, permitting simple reuse. These properties make cotton functionalized with the cyclodextrin polymer of interest for water purification membranes, odor controlling fabrics, and respirators that control exposure to VOCs. This functionalization approach is scalable, likely to be amenable to other fibrous substrates, and compatible with existing fiber manufacturing techniques.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8340-8346
Number of pages7
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume28
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 22 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Materials Chemistry

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