Microwave assisted synthesis of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) grafted agar (Ag-g-P(HEMA)) and its application as a flocculant for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) chains were grafted onto the backbone of agar using a microwave assisted method involving a combination of microwave irradiation and ceric ammonium nitrate to initiate the grafting reaction. The synthesized graft copolymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis (C, H, N, O and S) and scanning electron microscopy. Ag-g-P(HEMA)-2 showed a much higher flocculation efficacy than agar. The optimized dosage of flocculation for Ag-g-P(HEMA)-2 in the wastewater was found to be 0.75 ppm. Compared to agar, Ag-g-P(HEMA)-2 was found to considerably reduce the pollutant load in the wastewater.

Keywords

agar / flocculant / microwave assisted synthesis / jar test protocol / poly(HEMA) grafted agar / wastewater treatment

References

[1] Wuttisela K, Panijpan B, Triampo W, Triampo D. Optimization of the water absorption by crosslinked agar-g-poly(acrylic acid). Polymer (Korea), 2008, 32(6): 537–543

[2] Labropoulos K C, Niesz D E, Danforth S C, Kevrekidis P G. Dynamic rheology of agar gels: Theory and experiments. Part I: Development of a rheological model. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2002, 50(4): 393–406

[3] Armisen R, Galatas F. Properties and uses of agar, production and utilization of products from commercial seaweeds (Ch. 1). Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization, 1987, 288: 1–57

[4] Odian G. Principles of polymerization (3^rd edition). New York: John wiley & sons, 1991, 2: 17–19

[5] Gowariker V R, Viswanathan N V, Sreedhar J. Polymer Science. New Delhi: New age International (p) Ltd, 1986, 91–92

[6] Bhattacharya A, Rawlins J W, Ray P, eds. Polymer grafting and crosslinking. New Jersey: John wiley & sons, 2008, 1–329

[7] Da Silva D A, de Paula R C M, Feitosa J P A. Graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto cashew gum. European Polymer Journal, 2007, 43(6): 2620–2629

[8] Mostafa K A. Graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto starch using potassium permanganate acid (redox system). Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 1995, 56(2): 263–269

[9] Rani U G, Mishra S, Sen G, Jha U. Polyacrylamide grafted agar: Synthesis and applications of conventional and microwave assisted technique. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2012, 90(2): 784–791

[10] Bharti S, Mishra S, Sen G. Ceric ion initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted oatmeal: Its application as flocculant for waste water treatment. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2013, 93(2): 528–536

[11] Gupta K C, Sahoo S. Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile and ethylmethacrylate comonomers on cellulose using ceric ions. Biomacromolecules, 2001, 2(1): 239–247

[12] Sen G, Pal S. Polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethyltamarind (CMT-g-PAM): Development and application of a novel polymeric flocculant. Macromolecular Symposia, 2009, 277(1): 100–111

[13] Huang R Y M, Immergut B, Immergu E H, Rapson W H. Grafting vinyl polymers onto cellulose by high energy radiation. I. High energy radiation-induced graft copolymerization of styrene onto cellulose. Journal of Polymer Science: Part A, General Papers, 2003, 1(4): 1257–1270

[14] Hebeish A, Mehta P C. Grafting of acrylonitrile to different cellulosic materials by high-energy radiation. Textile Research Journal, 1968, 38(10): 1070–1071

[15] Geresh S, Gdalevsky G Y, Gilboa I, Voorspoels J, Remon J P, Kost J. Bioadhesive grafted cellulose copolymers as platforms for per oral drug delivery: A study of theophylline release. Journal of Controlled Release, 2004, 94(2-3): 391–399

[16] Shiraishi N, Williams J L, Stannett V. The radiation grafting of vinyl monomers to cotton fabrics. I. Methacrylic acid to terry cloth towelling. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 1982, 19: 73–78

[17] Sharma R K, Misra B N. Grafting onto wool. Polymer Bulletin, 1981, 6(3-4): 183–188

[18] Carenza M. Recent achievements in the use of radiation polymerization and grafting for biomedical applications. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 1992, 39: 485–493

[19] Wang J P, Chen Y Z, Zhang S J, Yu H Q. A chitosan-based flocculant prepared with gamma-irradiation-induced grafting. Bioresource Technology, 2008, 99(9): 3397–3402

[20] Barsbay M, Guven O, Davis T P, Kowollik C B, Barner L. RAFT-mediated polymerization and grafting of sodium 4-styrenesulfonate from cellulose initiated via γ-radiation. Polymer, 2009, 50(4): 973–982

[21] Deng J, Wang L, Liu L, Yang W. Developments and new applications of UV-induced surface graft polymerizations. Progress in Polymer Science, 2009, 34(2): 156–193

[22] Wang J, Liang G, Zhao W, Lu S, Zhang Z. Studies on surface modification of UHMWPE fibers via UV initiated grafting. Applied Surface Science, 2006, 253(2): 668–673

[23] Hua H, Li N, Wu L, Zhong H, Wu G, Yuan Z, Lin X, Tang L. Anti-fouling ultrafiltration membrane prepared from polysulfone-graft-methyl acrylate copolymers by UV-induced grafting method. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China), 2008, 20(5): 565–570

[24] Shanmugharaj A M, Kim J K, Ryu S H. Modification of rubber surface by UV surface grafting. Applied Surface Science, 2006, 252(16): 5714–5722

[25] Zhu Z, Kelley M J. Grafting onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) driven by 172 nm UV light. Applied Surface Science, 2005, 252(2): 303–310

[26] Deng J, Yang W. Grafting copolymerization of styrene and maleicanhydride binary monomer systems induced by UV irradiation. European Polymer Journal, 2005, 41(11): 2685–2692

[27] Thaker M D, Trivedi H C. Ultraviolet-radiation-induced graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate onto the sodium salt of partially carboxymethylated guar gum. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2005, 97(5): 1977–1986

[28] Chen C, Li X, Li Z. Graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto the UV-Ray irradiated film of polyester-polyether. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 1988, 6: 1

[29] Mishra S, Rani G U, Sen G. Microwave initiated synthesis and application of poly acrylic acid grafted carboxymethylcellulose. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2012, 87(3): 2255–2262

[30] Mishra S, Sen G. Microwave initiated synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate grafted guar (GG-g-PMMA), characterizations and application. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2011, 48(4): 688–694

[31] Sen G, Mishra S, Jha U, Pal S. Microwave initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted guar gum (GG-g-PAM)—characterizations and application as matrix for controlled release of 5-amino salicylic acid. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2010, 47(2): 164–170

[32] Sen G, Kumar R, Ghosh S, Pal S. A novel polymeric flocculant based on polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethylstarch. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2009, 77(4): 822–831

[33] Sen G, Singh R P, Sagar P. Microwave-initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted sodium alginate: Synthesis and characterization. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2010, 115(1): 63–71

[34] Sen G, Mishra S, Rani G U, Rani P, Prasad R. Microwave initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted Psyllium and its application as a flocculent. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2012, 50(2): 369–375

[35] Sen G, Pal S. Microwave initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethylstarch (CMS-g-PAM): Application as a novel matrix for sustained drug release. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2009, 45(1): 48–55

[36] Mishra S, Sen G, Rani G U, Sinha S. Microwave assisted synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted agar (Ag-g-PAM) and its application as flocculant for wastewater treatment. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2011, 49(4): 591–598

[37] Mishra S, Mukul A, Sen G, Jha U. Microwave assisted synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted starch (St-g-PAM) and its applicability as flocculant for water treatment. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2011, 48(1): 106–111

[38] Rani P, Sen G, Mishra S, Jha U. Microwave assisted synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted gum ghatti and its application as flocculant. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2012, 89(1): 275–281

[39] Rani P, Mishra S, Sen G. Microwave based synthesis of polymethyl methacrylate grafted alginate: Its application as flocculant. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2013, 91(2): 686–692

[40] Sen G, Sharon A, Pal S. Grafted polysaccharides: smart materials of the future, their synthesis and applications (Chapter 05). USA: Wiley-Scrivener, 2011, 99-128

[41] Tripathy T, Ranjan De B. Flocculation: A new way to treat the waste water. Journal of Physiological Sciences; JPS, 2006, 10: 93–127

[42] Mc Dowall D J, Gupta B S, Stannnett V T. Grafting of vinyl monomers to cellulose by ceric ion initiation. Progress in Polymer Science, 1984, 10(1): 1–50

[43] Singh J, Yadav L D S. Organic Synthesis. A pragati Prakadshan, 2008, 1–652

[44] Odian G. Principles of polymerization (4^th edition). New York: John Wiley &sons, 2004, 1-832

[45] Nayak P L, Lenka S. Redox polymerization initiated by metal ions. Journal of macromolecule Science, Part C: Polymer review, 1980, 19(1): 83–134

[46] Misra G S, Bajpai U D. Redox polymerization. Progress in Polymer Science, 1982, 8(1-2): 61–131

[47] Temel O, Ismail C. Synthesis of block copolymers via redox polymerization process: A critical review. Iranian Polymer Journal, 2007, 16(8): 561–581

[48] Ruehrwein R A, Ward D W. Mechanism of clay aggregation by poly electrolytes. Journal of Soil Science, 1952, 73(6): 485–492

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support received from University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India vide Grant No. F-39-800/2010(SR)).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg