The USE OF RADIATION GRAFT COPOLYMERS IN SOME INDUSTRIAL WASTES

Abstract

This research work deals with preparation of different graft copolymers having various functional groups. Radiation graft polymerization of methylmethacrylate/ vinylacetate (MMA/ VAc), styrene/vinylacetate (Sty/VAc) in a binary monomers mixture and 4-vinylpyridine onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) films was carried out using the direct radiation technique. Treatment of such graft copolymers by sulfonation or/ and KOH was also carried out to improve their ionic character. The prepared materials are investigated for possible use in practical applications.

This study is divided into three main parts:

!-Preparation of the graft copolymers and optimization of the conditions at which the grafting process proceeds successfully.

2-Characterization of the prepared grafted films by IR., SEM, and their thermal stability using TGA and DSC. The change in their tensile strength and elongation and improvement in their hydrophilicity with grafting were investigated.

3-Employment of the prepared graft copolymers as ion­ exchangers for removal of some important metals and dyes from the waste water was investigated.

The main results obtained in this work can be summarized in the following:

1- Among the different solvents used as a diluent for radiation grafting ofMMA/VAc, Sty/VAc and 4-VP onto LDPE and PP, a etone,_methanol and acetone, respectively, is found to