Jute hydrophobization via laccase-catalyzed grafting of fluorophenol and fluoroamine

Abstract

Two fluorinated monomers, 4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]phenol (TFMPP) and 1H,1H-perfluorononylamine (PFNL), were efficiently grafted onto the exposed lignin of jute's surface by a laccase mediated reaction. Their grafting onto the lignin-exposed jute was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The coupling of fluorophenol and fluoramine onto a complex lignin model compound (2-methoxy-4-propylphenol) (MP) was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Laccase-catalyzed grafting of both fluorinated monomers led to 41.94% and 46.35% increase in contact angle for TFMPP and PFNL, respectively. An oil static contact angle of 117.16° and oil wetting time values higher than 30 min obtained for PFNL-grafted jute also demonstrated the oleophobic behavior of jute samples after laccase-mediated oxidation. The laccase-related oxidation and formation of homopolymers and copolymers was also confirmed by UV-visible spectra of treatment solutions supernatant in the UV-visible region (200–700 nm).