Preparation of arsenic selective polymeric adsorbent by modification of radiation grafted glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) nonwoven fibers

Kavakli, C.*; Kavakli, P. A.*; Seko, Noriaki; Tamada, Masao; Gven, O.*

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was grafted onto polypropylene coated polyethylene nonwoven fabrics in emulsion system by using radiation induced graft polymerization. For the preparation of GMA grafted fabric, the trunk PE/PP nonwoven fabric was irradiated by electron beam. After irradiation process, GMA was grafted onto irradiated nonwoven fabric under nitrogen atmosphere. In order to prepare fibrous PLE adsorbent for the removal of arsenic, grafted GMA was first modified with dipicolylamine. Maximum modification was obtained in 15 % (w/w) dipicolylamine solution. Then, PLE adsorbent was loaded with Cu ions. High copper ion loading was observed for PLE fibers. Column mode adsorption studies were conducted with copper loaded PLE adsorbents at different arsenic concentrations (1-50 ppm) and pH to examine the removal of arsenic (V) in aqueous solutions. The breakthrough point of As (V) was found to be 8000 bed volumes for 1 ppm As (V) solution.