ADSORPTION-KINETICS OF MICROBIAL-CELLS ONTO A NOVEL BRUSH-TYPE POLYMERIC MATERIAL PREPARED BY RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-POLYMERIZATION

A novel brush-type microbial-cell-adsorbing material was prepared by r adiation-induced graft polymerization. A vinyl monomer containing an e poxy group, glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), was first grafted onto a poly ethylene-based fiber before the introduction of a tertiary amino group , i.e., diethylamine (DEA). The grafted-type DEA fibers prepared were then tested for their microbial-cell-adsorbing activity by contacting the fibers with a Staphylococcus aureus suspension. The DEA fibers sho wed adsorption ability of S. aureus, and the adsorption rate increased with increasing density of the DEA group. On the other hand, DEA was also introduced onto crosslinked-type GMA beads and its adsorption rat e of S. aureus cells was compared with that of the grafted-type DEA fi bers. The grafted-type DEA fibers exhibited an adsorption rate constan t 1000-fold greater than that of the cross-linked-type DEA beads. Obse rvation by scanning electron microscopy showed that the shape of S. au reus cells adsorbed on the grafted-type DEA fibers was intact whereas the shape of those adsorbed on the cross-linked-type DEA beads was dif ficult to identify.