ARS | Publication request: PREPARATION OF ION EXCHANGERS FROM BAGASSE BY CROSSLINKING WITH EPICHLOROHYDRIN-NH4OH OR EPICHLOROHYDRIN-IMIDAZOLE

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Polymer Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 25, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. textile industry generates billions of gallons of wastewater each year which costs the industry millions of dollars to treat. We explored various ways to simply and inexpensively chemically modify sugarcane bagasse so that this abundant crop byproduct could be used to remove residual dyes from textile wastewater. The general approach taken was to introduce positive charges into the bagasse while chemically crosslinking its constituent polymers at the same time. Of various specific chemistries tried, we found that the combination of epichlorohydrin and imidazole produced a modified bagasse material that has good dye-binding capabilities. This research has identified a promising new chemistry that could help protect the nation's valuable water resources and increase the sustainability of U.S. agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane bagasse was crosslinked with epichlorohydrin in the presence of NH4OH or imidazole, or was modified with a polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin. The obtained products were compared with diethylaminoethyl-bagasse in terms of anion exchange capacity and dye-binding properties. Ion exchangers containing imidazolium groups bound dye more effectively than material crosslinked with epichlorohydrin - NH4OH. Bagasse modified with diethylaminoethyl groups or with polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin had less dye-binding capacity than NH4OH- and imidazole-modified bagasse. For all four types of prepared ion exchangers, dye binding increased with decreased solution pH. With regard to product yield and exchange capacity, the optimal epichlorohydrin-NH4OH and epichlorohydrin-imidazole reaction conditions were obtained with reactant ratios of 5:1 and 2:1, respectively, under pressurized conditions.