title: Graft polymerization of wood sawdust and peat with ethylene carbonate. A novel method for the preparation of supports with enhanced mechanical properties to be used in biofiltration of organic vapors.
abstract: The graft polymerization reaction between ethylene carbonate (EC) and scots pine sawdust (SPS) or peat moss (PM) offers a solvent-free approach to the simple and inexpensive aliphatic derivatization of these lignocellulosic fibers. This reaction was studied with liquid or vapor EC phases in three different reactor configurations: batch stirred (BSR), semi-continuous stirred (SSR) and continuous tubular in the gas phase (CVTR). The use of a vapor phase allowed a satisfactory grafting yield and minimal production of non-grafted polyol by-products. The crosslinking agent 4,4'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) achieved superior characteristics to form shaped tablets resistant to water disaggregation, a high water retention capacity and high compression strength, characteristics that conventional organic supports like PM or PM-polyurethane foam mixtures used in biofiltration of waste gases do not completely possess.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Química, Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Lab. E-314, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hernández-Meléndez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peydecastaing
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bárzana
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaca-Garcia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Luna
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Borredon