Preparation and characterization of hydrophilicity fibers based on 2-(dimethyamino)ethyl mathacrylate grafted polypropylene by UV- irradiation for removal of Cr(VI) and as(V)

The hydrophilic fibers based on 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) which could remove Cr(VI) ions rapidly were prepared by UV-irradiation induced grafting of DMAEMA through pre-coating photoinitiator on the fibers and modifying with bromoethane(BE). The FTIR, FESEM, XPS, TG-DTG and contact angle spectra manifested that DMAEMA was grafted onto the surface of PP fibers and subsequently was quaternized. The maximum grafting degree (22.9 %) and exchange capacity of DMAEMA (1.2 mmol g −1 ) was obtained when PP fibers was immersed in BP concentration of 0.3 % for 4 h, irradiated with the DMAEMA concentration of 100 % and irradiation time of 20 min, and then was modified with BE. The modified fibers of PP-g-DMAEMA with bromoethane were proved to remove Cr(VI) and As(V) with removal rate of 97.3 % and 96.2 % within 10 min, respectively. The prepared fibers have potential application for the removal of Cr(VI) and As(V) from wastewater highly and rapidly.