Porous polymer oil sorbents based on PET fibers with crosslinked copolymer coatings

Oil sorbents-namely materials that can be used to extract oil after a spill-were fabricated from non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (NWPET) fibers modified by the adherence of crosslinked polymer coatings to the fiber surface. The NWPET fibers, which serve as a structural support for the applied functional coatings, were produced from recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. The oil absorbing coatings were comprised of crosslinked homopolymers and copolymers based on octadecyl acrylate (ODA), maleic anhydride (MA), and related esters of MA. The crosslinked polymer networks were synthesized by both suspension and bulk polymerization techniques using divinylbenzene (DVB) as the crosslinking agent. Efficacy of the coated NWPET fibers as oil sorbers was determined by oil absorption tests in toluene and in 10% crude oil in toluene. Rigidity, porosity and swelling of the crosslinked polymers were evaluated and correlated to the chemical structures, composition, and reaction media. Suspension polymerization yielded the desired morphology and function, providing higher porosity and in consequence a high absorption capacity.