Preparation of membranes based on high-density polyethylene graft copolymers for phosphate anion removal

This work was undertaken to synthesize graft copolymers that possess functional groups via the radiation-induced grafting of acrylamide onto a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) substrate. The optimum conditions suitable for radiation graft copolymerization were determined. In this regard, the effects of the solvent, the inhibitor concentration, the monomer concentration and the irradiation dose on the grafting yield were investigated. Selected properties of the prepared graft copolymers were investigated to elucidate the possibility of their practical use in the removal of metals and phosphate anions. The effects of different parameters that may affect the metal chelation process, such as pH, metal feed concentration and time of contact, were also studied. A chemically modified membrane loaded with Cu(II) was used for the removal of phosphate ions from aqueous solutions.