Preparation of Cellulose Ion Exchanger.

Abstract:
Viscose fibers were converted to an ion exchanger by grafting it with (1)
Diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) to give anion exchanger and
(2) Methacrylic acid (MAA) to give cation exchanger. Grafting was carried
using ferrous cellulose thiocarbonate – H2O2 – Thio urea dioxide (TUDO)
redox initiation system. Emphasis was placed on the promotion of graft
formation as well as ion exchange capacity. This could be achieved by
investigating the major factors affecting the polymerization reaction such as
monomer and initiator concentrations, time and temperature of
polymerization, and material to liquor ratio (fiber: liquid). From this
investigation we found that the optimum conditions gave maximum capacity
and graft yield in the co-polymerization of DEAEMA: HNO3 onto viscose
were: 0.6% sodium hydroxide concentration, 44.44% monomer concentration,
90 minute polymerization time, 60 oC polymerization temperature, and 1:5
liquor ratio. While the optimum conditions gave maximum capacity and graft
yield in the co-polymerization of MAA onto viscose were: 0.2% sodium
hydroxide concentration, 20% monomer concentration, 30 minute
polymerization time, 60 oC polymerization temperature, and 1:10 liquor ratio.