Modified Pet Fibres for Metal Ion and Dye Removal from Aqueous Media

Abstract

In this study, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres were modified with methacrylic acid (MAA) to provide new chelating fibres. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as initiator. To increase the grafting yield, a pretreatment with formaldehyde was done, which increased the efficiency of grafting treatment by connecting –CH2OH groups to the fibres' polymeric chains. The effect of reaction parameters including methacrylic acid concentration, benzoyl peroxide concentration, reaction time and temperature on grafting yield were studied. The extent of fibre modification was characterized with FT-IR spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and SEM. The ability of modified fibres to adsorb Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from aqueous media was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results confirmed that the methacrylic acid grafted PET fibres could remove Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from water efficiently. Also, the modified fibre was used for basic dye adsorption from water and showed a great capacity for removal of cationic dyes from aqueous media.