Chelating filter papers with chemically bonded amidoxime groups were synthe
sized by radiation-induced grafting of acrylonitrile onto filter paper (W3)
followed by chemical treatment with hydroxylamine. The effect of grafting
conditions such as absorbed dose, dose rate, monomer concentration and filt
er paper thickness on the grafting yield was studied. It was found that the
degree of grafting increases with increasing absorbed dose and dose rate,
and then tends to level off at high doses. The order of the dependence of t
he initial grafting rate on the dose is found to be of 0.33, An increasing
monomer concentration was accompanied by a significant increase in grafting
. At high monomer concentration the initial rate of grafting is fast follow
ed by a slow rate. The rate of grafting is controlled by the filter paper t
hickness and the diffusion of monomer into the interior of the filter paper
. Mechanical properties of the prepared filter paper were improved over the
ungrafted paper. The amidoxime filter papers were examined for adsorption
of uranium concentration ranging between 10-100 ppm. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie
nce Ltd. All rights reserved.