Chemical Modification of Nano Polyacrylonitrile Prepared by Emulsion Polymerization Induced by Gamma Radiation and Their Use for Removal of Some Metal Ions

Emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) was carried out using gamma irradiation at a dose of 20 kGy. Tween 80 (poly oxy ethylene sorbitan monooleate) and (sodium dodecylsulfate) SDS were used as emulsifiers. The chemical modification of nano PAN was carried out to convert the nitrile group into the carboxylic acid group by refluxed nano PAN with sodium hydroxide. The chemical modified nano PAN was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy The Transmission electron microscopy has been used to assess the average particle diameter of the chemically modified nano PAN, the results indicates that the diameter of chemically modified nano PAN particle is ranged from 5 to 15 nm. The ability of modified nano PAN attachment with carboxylic acid groups have been applied effectively for adsorption of various metal ions such as (Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+). The capability and efficiency of the modified nano PAN for the removal of Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ was detected by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A solution containing about 10 mg L-1 of three metal ions of (Pb2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+) was treated with 0.01 g of modified nano PAN at a temperature of 40 degrees C. The metal ion removal capacity of modified nano PAN was found to follow the order: Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Pb2+. The highest removal efficiency of the modified nano PAN was for Cd2+, in which the highest amount of Cd2+ removal was 4.951 mg g(-1) dry of modified nano PAN.