“Gamma radiation induced preparation of microsphere Nanocomposite by Emulsion Polymerization for removal of some Radionuclides

Abstract

Polymerization initiated by ionizing radiation can be carried out by both a free-radical and an ionic (cationic or anionic) mechanism. The determining factor is the nature of the end of the growing chain. Radiation induced polymerization is a reaction that involves formation of polymer, copolymer or graft copolymer by exposure to high energy radiation, which generate radicals in the system that allow the reaction to occure and complete. Monomers may be polymerised by free radical initiation by one of five (media) methods: polymerisation in bulk, in solution, dispersed as large particles in water or occasionally in another non-solvent (suspension polymerisation), or dispersed as fine particles, less than 1.5 μm, usually less than 1 μm in diameter. The last-named process is usually known as emulsion polymerization as shown in Fig.1. Polymerization or grafting onto polymers in the emulsion media is a method for carrying out the reaction in a disperse system generally containing hydrophobic monomer and water as a dispersion medium[1]. The stability of the emulsion system containing the monomer is maintained using a surfactant[2].