Synthesis of electron beam grafted poly-propylene (PP) membranes for selective adsorption of uranium from sea water

Graft co polymerisation of Acrylonitrile (AN) onto porous polypropylene (PP) by post irradiation technique using electron beam (EB) irradiation were studied with regards to various parameters of importance like grafting time, dose rate and horizontal stacking. Grafting of AN causes hardening as well as yellow colouration of the white flexible PP substrate sheets. Grafting reaches saturation limits of ∼130 % after grafting for 2-3 hours and no significant increase in grafting extents is seen after this period. Higher grafting levels are achieved at low dose rates. Keeping the ratio of volume of grafting solution and weight of PP substrate constant, simultaneous grafting of 10-12 PP sheets can be carried out by horizontal stacking without much variation in the grafting limits between the stacked sheets. (author)