Radiation Synthesis of Adsorbents for Phosphate Removal from Aqueous Systems

Abstract

Nonwoven fabrics made of PE coated PP fibres were irradiated by accelerated electrons in inert atmospheres for grafting of two different monomers, glycidyl methacrylate and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate. Grafting conditions were optimized by a systematic investigation of the effects of absorbed dose, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and duration. 150% grafted copolymers were later modifed by protonation and quaternization of poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) chains and by Cu(II) loading of dipyridyl amine modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft chains. The PE/PP based adsorbents thus prepared were used for their suitability of removing phosphate ions from aqueous systems. Adsorption/ removal studies were carried out in both batch and continuous flow type systems. The selevtivity of adsorption of phosphate ions in the presence of other competing anions were also checked showing the enhanced selectivity for phosphate ions.