Synthesis of 2-methylacrylamide/high-molecular-weight Cellulose for Removing Anionic Dyes from Water by Irradiation with Gamma Rays

Abstract We report a new method for treating high-molecular-weight cellulose with 60Co gamma rays to simultaneously graft functional groups onto the natural polymer and promote its solubility. After exposing cellulose to a 40-kilogray dose of gamma rays in the presence of 2-methylacrylamide, numerous amide groups were grafted onto the cellulose chain and its solubility increased markedly. Amide-functionalized aerogels were prepared via the sol-gel method using the irradiated product as a raw material. Compared with 40-kGy-irradiated cellulose aerogel, the amide-functionalized aerogels had relatively high zero-point charge pH values and excellent adsorption capacities with regard to anionic dyes over the pH range 2-10. They were also stable in terms of reusability. Therefore, the 2-methylacrylamide/high-molecular-weight cellulose aerogel has great potential for use in the treatment of colored surface wastewater. The 60Co gamma ray irradiation technique described herein is a flexible, stable and highly efficient method for the preparation of functionalized cellulose products.