[en] Cellulose as a renewable raw material was used for preparation of adsorbent of organic impurities in wastewater treatment. Hydrophobic surface of cellulose substrate was developed by grafting glycidyl methacrylate in simultaneous grafting using gamma irradiation initiation. Water uptake of cellulose significantly decreased while adsorption of phenol and a pesticide molecule (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid: 2,4-D) increased upon grafting. Adsorption equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich isotherm for both solutes. - Highlights: ► GMA was grafted to cellulose in simultaneous irradiation process. ► On GMA grafted cellulose adsorption of phenol and a pesticide molecule was observed. ► ObservedAdsorption equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich isotherm.

[en] The thermal decomposition of cotton and hemp fibers was studied after mild alkaline treatments with tetramethyl-, tetraethyl- and tetrabutylammonium hydroxides with the goal of modeling the chemical activation during carbonization of cellulosic fibers. The thermal decomposition was studied by thermogravimetry/mass spectrometry and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). The treated samples decomposed in two temperature ranges during heating in the thermobalance. At lower temperature, tetraalkylammonium hydroxides (TAAH) ionically bonded to the cellulose molecules were decomposed; moreover, the alkaline agents initiated the partial decomposition of cellulose. Those fiber segments, which were not accessible for TAAH, decomposed at similar temperatures as the original cotton and hemp samples. It is known that quaternary ammonium hydroxides swell the cellulosic fibers; however, the results of this study proved that there was a chemical interaction between the alkaline swelling agents and cotton or hemp fibers at rather low temperatures (200–300 °C). The evolved products indicated that the alkaline chemicals reacted with the cellulose molecules and alkylated compounds were formed. This observation was confirmed by thermochemolysis experiments carried out by Py–GC/MS using tetramethylammonium hydroxide reagent. The thermochemolysis experiments under mild conditions resulted in the methylation of the glucoside units and levoglucosan, and no peeling reactions of the sugar units were observed as during strong alkaline conditions described in the literature.

[en] Cotton-cellulose was functionalized using gamma-irradiation-induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to obtain a hydrophobic cellulose derivative with epoxy groups suitable for further chemical modification. Two grafting techniques were applied. In pre-irradiation grafting (PIG) cellulose was irradiated in air and then immersed in a GMA monomer solution, whereas in simultaneous grafting (SG) cellulose was irradiated in an inert atmosphere in the presence of the monomer. PIG led to a more homogeneous fiber surface, while SG resulted in higher grafting yield but showed clear indications of some GMA-homopolymerization. Effects of the reaction parameters (grafting method, absorbed dose, monomer concentration, solvent composition) were evaluated by SEM, gravimetry (grafting yield) and FTIR spectroscopy. Water uptake of the cellulose decreased while adsorption of a pesticide molecule increased upon grafting. The adsorption was further enhanced by β-cyclodextrin immobilization during SG. This method can be applied to produce adsorbents from cellulose based agricultural wastes. - Highlights: → Fundamentals of two grafting methods for biomass utilization as adsorbents. → Simultaneous grafting is more efficient and useful than the pre-irradiation one. → Methanol/water/surfactant combined solvent gives the best grafting yield. → Grafted cellulose increased hydrophobicity and adsorption of phenolic compounds. → Improved adsorption by bonding β-cyclodextrin during simultaneous grafting.

[en] Superabsorbent hydrogels were prepared by gamma irradiation from aqueous solutions of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and acrylic acid (AAc) with varying CMC:AAc ratio. By partially replacing the CMC with AAc the gelation increased and led to a higher gel fraction and lower water uptake. Moreover, the gelation required significantly milder synthesis conditions. Decreasing both the dose and the solute concentration in the presence of AAc led to gels with higher gel fraction and higher degree of swelling compared to pure CMC gels. Increasing the AAc content up to 10% proved to be very effective, while very high AAc content (over 50%) hindered the gelation process. - Highlights: • CMC/AAc hydrogels were prepared by radiation-induced crosslinking. • Gelation required lower dose and solute concentration in CMC/AAc solutions. • Increased AAc concentration improved the gel fraction at the expense of water uptake. • In mild synthesis conditions CMC/AAc gels had better properties than pure CMC gels. • Substitution of CMC with AAc up to 10% proved to be the most effective.