Gamma ray induced grafting of binary monomers (Acrylic acid/Methyl Methacrylate) onto polyethylene (PE) films for heavy metal adsorption

In this research work γ-ray induced grafting of co-monomers acrylic acid (aac) and methyl methacrylate (mma) on polyethylene (pe) films was investigated and the grafted films were tested for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution. gamma ray induced grafting of aac and mma was optimized with respect to monomer ratio,monomer concentration,radiation dose using methanol/h2o as solvent and mohr's salt as inhibitor. the monomer concentration was varied from 10-40 % (10,20,40 %),radiation dose was varied from 5-40 kgy (5,10,15,20,25,30,40 kgy),monomer ratio was varied as (mma: aac = 9:1,8:2,7:3,6:4,1:1,4:6,3:7,2:8,1:9). highest graft yield of 450 % was obtained at 40 % monomer concentration,40 kgy radiation dose and 1:1 monomer ratio. the grafted pe films were studied for adsorption of cu(ii) from aqueous solution. adsorption capacity was studied under different conditions: contact time,grafting percentage,ph and initial metal ion concentration. the adsorption capacity after 30 minutes contact time was determined as 36.6 mg/g at ph 5,initial metal ion concentration 500 ppm and 286 graft percentage. these adsorbents have good future prospects as cu(ii) recovery agent.