Heat-induced grafting of non-woven fabrics for high-capacity ion-exchange separation

摘要

The present invention provides a process for making a polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membrane configured for use in a separation process. The present invention further provides a membrane thus formed and an improved separation method using the membrane. Polymer-grafted and functionalized nonwoven membranes are particularly formed using thermal grafting. In particular, the acrylate or methacrylate polymer may be grafted onto a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of polymeric fibers to form a plurality of polymer segments covalently attached to the polymeric fibers. Thermal grafting may include, inter alia, using a thermal initiator and exposing the nonwoven web to heat to initiate polymerization of the acrylate or methacrylate monomer. The grafted polymeric fibers may be functionalized to attach one or more functional groups configured to bind to the target molecule to the polymer segment of the grafted polymeric fiber.