Synthesis of Mn2O3/poly(styrene-co-butyl methacrylate) resin composites and their oil-absorbing properties

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis of Mn₂O₃/poly(styrene-co-butyl methacrylate) resin composites by using a combined biotemplate technology and microwave polymerization method, as well as their application in oil absorption. In this synthesis, the hollow Mn₂O₃ fibers were prepared via a simple biotemplate method employing cotton fibers as templates. And the resin composites with good thermal stability and excellent recyclability were synthesised by a microwave polymerization route. The morphology, structure and thermal stability of as-synthesized resin composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TGA). An L₉ orthogonal array of the Taguchi method was implemented to optimize the oil absorption properties of resin composites. The results indicated that the oil absorption properties were strongly influenced by the ratio of monomers and the content of crosslinking agents. The saturated resin composites can be effectively desorbed in anhydrous ethanol, and the regenerated resin composites can be reused in the subsequent absorption–regeneration cycles without significant loss of the absorption capacities.