Irradiation grafting of hydrophilic monomer onto chitin

Abstract

Studies on radiation grafting of a hydrophilic monomer onto chitin for ion exchange applications were Chitin has been increased attention for its use, such as ion exchange. They are utilized scarcely because of problems with low solubility, hydrophobicity, and reactivity. Irradiation graft copolymerization induced by irradiation is one of the methods for chitin modification to improve its properties such as hydrophobicity and reactivity. This research aims to increase the ability of chitin as ion exchange for the heavy metal adsorbent. The hydrophilic monomers used were acrylic acid and acrylamide. In the present research, the pre-radiation method was used. The irradiation of the sample was carried out in the Co-60 gamma ray irradiation source at room temperature. The monomers solutions acrylic acid or acrylamide than introduce into irradiated chitin, and the graft polymerization was done in an inner condition. The grafting presentation has been determined as a variation of monomer concentration and temperature as a function of the reaction time. The grafted chitin obtained was washing and dried in a vacuum, and the percentage of grafting was measured by the gravimetric method. Measuring the capacity of adsorption of grafted chitin to Cr, Cu, and Hg metal ion was determined by using AAS and CV AAS. The result shows that using acrylamide gives a percentage of grafting higher compare with acrylic acid. The FTIR spectrum demonstrates the presence of monomer grafted onto chitin with the appearance of the carbonyl functional group. Chitin grafted with acrylic acid gives a higher rate of adsorption of metal ion Cr, Cu, and Hg compare grafted with acrylamide. The highest percentage of adsorption is for metal ion Hg. It was found 294 mg/g for chit-g-Aac and 257 mg/g for Chit-g-Aam.,