Membranes prepared by radiation grafting of binary monomers for adsorptionof heavy metals from industrial wastes

Preparation of synthetic membranes using simultaneous radiation grafting of acrylic acid (AAc) and styrene (Sty) as individually and in binary monomer mixture onto low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been carried out. The eff ect of preparation conditions such as irradiation dose, monomer concentrati on, comonomer composition, and solvent on the grafting yield was investigat ed. Characterization and some properties of the prepared membranes using di fferent analytical techniques are studied, accordingly the possibility of i ts practical use in industrial waste treatment is determined. The swelling behavior, electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical proper ties of the membranes were investigated as a function of the grafting degre e. The prepared cation-exchange membranes possessed good electrical and mec hanical properties, high thermal stability and possess good characteristics for separation processes. These membranes have also good affinity toward t he adsorption or chelation with Fe3+ and pb(2+) ions either in mixture cont aining other metals or if exists alone in the waste solution. (C) 1999 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.