Preparation of 18-crown-6-ether derivative-impregnated fiber based on the radiation-induced graft polymerization

Horita, Takuma ; Asai, Shiho; Konda, Miki; Hanzawa, Yukiko  ; Saito, Kyoichi*; Fujiwara, Kunio*; Sugo, Takanobu*; Kitatsuji, Yoshihiro  

High activity concentrations of Sr, which greatly exceed the regulatory limit (30 Bq/L), are detected in contaminated waters sampled in Fukushima Daiichi NPP. However, analytical method for Sr associated with time-consuming procedure causes delay in understanding the current status of Sr contamination. In this study, we have prepared a Sr adsorption fiber (Sr Fiber) based on radiation-induced graft polymerization technique to achieve a rapid adsorption of Sr ions. Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 ether that has high affinity for Sr was impregnated in the hydrophobic interfacial phase provided by hydrophobic polymer chains attached on the fiber surface through graft polymerization. The time required to reach the Sr adsorption equilibrium for the Sr Fiber is approximately 180 times shorter than that for a commercially available Sr adsorbent (Sr Resin), showing that the Sr Fiber has a potential to efficiently reduce the analytical time of Sr.