Synthesis and decoloration capacity of well-defined and WMA-grafted palygorskite nanocomposites

Structurally well-defined PMMA-grafted palygorskite nanoparticles were prepared by modifying the surface of palygorskite nanoparticles with initiators for reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (reverse ATRP) and by using these initiator-modified nanoparticles as macroinitiators. Reverse ATRP from palygorskite nanoparticles was then performed to attach well-defined polymer on to an inorganic core. It has been found that the dispersibility of palygorskite particles in organic solvents is significantly improved by grafting polymers onto the surface of palygorskite particles. The polymer-grafted palygorskite nanoparticles possess excellent decoloration capacity in organic solvents. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.