Performance appraisal of a cross-linked polymer prepared by gamma radiation for the removal of copper and its binding mechanism

The improvement of adsorbent materials with specific characteristics is very important in different environmental applications such as the removal of undesirable elements (wastewater treatment) or separation of elements or radionuclides and remediation of organic pollutants from their solutions. Herein, a cross-linked poly(acrylic acid-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) was prepared by a copolymerization technique in the existence of N, Ǹ-methylene bis-acrylamide as a cross-linked agent using gamma irradiation (γ-rays) to induce the polymeric reaction at a minimum radiation dose of 30kGy. The optimization of polymer preparation was done using different parameters such as radiation dose, cross-linker amount, and monomer ratios. The batch mode was applied for the investigation of copper removal from their aqueous solutions using the synthesized polymer. Besides, the theoretical models were checked for experimental data to describe the nature of the adsorption process. Also, the confirmation of adsorption was evaluated using SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR to explain the adsorption processes. Furthermore, desorption prepared polymer was tested and the results exhibited that the HNO₃ is the best desorption agent. The reusability of the synthesized polymer also was examined for six cycles and the results confirmed that there is no remarkable change in the uptake of polymer.