Novel polyacrylonitrile (PAN) grafted sepiolite nanocomposites were synthesized via emulsion polymerization. The influence of synthesis parameters on the degree of grafting was studied by varying the concentrations of monomer, initiator and surfactant. The nitrile groups of PAN were chemically modified into amidoxime. Both the grafting and amidoxime percentages were determined gravimetrically and maximum grafting of 373% was achieved at 5% acrylonitrile, 1% surfactant and 0.1% initiator concentrations. The presence of vibration at 2242 cm(-1) in Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum and x-ray diffraction (XRD) reflection at 2 theta = 16.9 degrees (010) confirmed the grafting of PAN chains onto modified sepiolite. XRD patterns also indicated a decrease in crystallinity of sepiolite and appearance of new amorphous region in grafted nanocomposites. The morphological changes of sepiolite during silanization and grafting of PAN is also confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images clearly showed the shortening of fibers after silanization of sepiolite and the same were involved in heterogeneous nucleation in micelles. These developed amidoxime grafted sepiolite nanocomposites can be used as adsorbent for the metal recovery. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.