Gamma radiation induced optimized synthesis of amine functionalised poly-glycidyl methacrylate grafted poly-propylene non-woven fabric and its adsorption behaviour towards aqueous Pb(II)

Comprehensive optimization of the functionalization of polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric through gamma irradiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), results in a material having high grafting yield. The technique, utilizing a mutual irradiation method, produced poly-GMA (PGMA) grafted PP fabric with a remarkable grafting yield of 125 % in a 1:1 acetone–water mixture, subjected to 25 kGy of total dose at a dose rate of 5 kGyh⁻¹. The enhancement of the amination process utilizing PGMA-grafted PP was investigated with polyamines. Under the optimized conditions, the diethylene triamine (DETA) functionalized variant was identified as an effective adsorbent for aqueous Pb²⁺ ions. The optimized adsorbent exhibited a high saturation capacity of approximately 230 mgg⁻¹ for Pb²⁺ ions, demonstrating rapid kinetics at near-neutral pH and 25 °C. This low cost innovative material holds significant promise for effective lead removal from drinking water and industrial wastewater, offering a sustainable economical solution for environmental remediation.