Synthesis and Characterization of Ion Exchanger Based on Waste Cotton for Dye Removal from Wastewater

GLYCIDYL methacrylate (GMA) polymerization with waste cotton fabric by utilizing co-initiator of ferrous cellulose thiocarbonate-hydrogen peroxide redox system was first studied under various conditions. These include the polymerization time, temperature, liquor ratio, pH and concentrations of the initiator and monomer. The product cellulose-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft copolymer (CPGMA) produced at best polymerization conditions was then functionalized with triethylammonium chloride (TEAC), aiming to obtain a low-cost adsorbent for dye removal from wastewater. Also, factors that affecting the amination reaction, which include; reaction time, temperature, liquor ratio, pH, and aminating agent/epoxy molar ratio were studied. The prepared amino-functionalized cellulose-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft copolymer (AM-CPGMA) was further characterized by the FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and surface area measurement based on Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) theories. The dye adsorption capacity of the anion exchanger was also evaluated.