Controlling of Degradation Effects in Radiation Processing of Polymers

Radiation induced degradation technology is a new and promising application of ionizing radiation to develop viscose, pulp, paper, food preservation, pharmaceutical production, and natural bioactive agents industries. Controlling the degree of degradation, uniform molecular weight distribution, saving achieved in the chemicals (used in conventional methods) on a cost basis, and environmentally friendly process are the beneficial effects of using radiation technology in these industries. In this respect, studies have been made on the controlling of degradation in radiation processing of natural polymers used for agricultural and industrial purposes such as CMC-Na, chitosan, alginate and starch. Trials were made to control and reduce the irradiation dose required for the CMC-Na degradation by the addition of some additives and controlling the irradiation conditions. The moistened CMC-Na showed a great influence on the degradation/ crosslinking ratio according to the content of water during EB irradiation. The possibility to crosslink CMC-Na/PAAm and starch/PAAm blends using electron beam irradiation to obtain good adsorbent materials of unique properties for possible practical uses was also investigated. Degraded Na-alginate was used as additives during radiation crosslinking of PAAm for the use as soil conditioner in agriculture purposes