Graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate onto date palm fiber and its application in the removal of chromium(III) from water

Toxic metals released from untreated industrial effluents can reach the water bodies and affect the aquatic life. These metals can easily enter the food chain and cause health hazards. Ion exchangers have been applied to remove certain ions from the polluted water. A new ion-exchanger was prepared by graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate onto date palm wood fiber in an aqueous solution. Hydrogen peroxide was used as an initiator and ferrous ammonium sulfate as a catalyst. The effects of the amount of the initiator, the amount of the catalyst, the reaction time and the reaction temperature were investigated. A maximum percentage of grafting of 220% and a grafting efficiency of 47% were obtained at a temperature of 90°C, a period of time of 2 h and an amount of 0.15 mmol of the catalyst. The optimum volume of the monomer was 8 mL and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 0.03 M. The grafted copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy where a band at 1,730 cm^–1 provides strong evidence of the grafting process. The surface morphology of the copolymer was studied using the scanning electron microscopy. The ion-exchanger was prepared by reacting the grafted copolymer with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. This ion-exchanger was applied for the removal of chromium from water.