Homogeneous modification of sugarcane bagasse cellulose with 2-(Dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate in ionic liquid under microwave irradiation

A cellulose grafted copolymer was synthesized by homogeneous grafting 2-(Dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) onto the sugarcane bagasse cellulose under microwave irradiation. Cellulose was dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylinidazolium chloride ionic liquid ([Bmim]Cl) to form a homogeneous solution. The grafting polymerization was then initiated by potassium persulfate in the presence of N,(N')-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker. Compared with the traditional thermal heating method, microwave irradiation had a drastic reduction of reaction time and an increased grafted efficiency. The characterization of the graft copolymer was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, the homogenous reaction media applied can be carried out in completely recycled ionic liquid, and the grafted cellulose products have a potential application in wastewater anion absorption.