IAEA-CN-115-31 · Use of Electron Beam in Pre-irradiation Grafting for Preparation of Ion Exchange Membrane and Application

J. Zu¹, Y. Feng¹, M. Wu¹, S. Qiu², C. Yu¹

¹Shanghai Applied Radiation Institute, Shanghai University, Jia Ding, Shanghai 201800, China
²Shanghai Applied Physics Institute, Jia Ding, Shanghai 201800, China

Abstract: Radiation-induced grafting of sodium styrene sulfonate and acrylic acid onto HDPE membranes was studied by pre-irradiation technique. Grafting was carried out using electronic beam from 2MeV accelerator at room temperature. The effects of pre-irradiation atmosphere, monomers concentration and storage time of pre-irradiationed HDPE membranes on grafting yield were investigated. An easy control over the grafting yield could be achieved by proper selection of reaction conditions. Infrared spectroscopy analysis of the grafted membrane confirmed the existence of sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups in the grafted membranes. Thermal and chemical properties of the cation-exchange membranes were investigated. The effectiveness of –SO³Na containing membranes was conformed in inducing high resistance to oxidative degradation. Char residue of the grafted HDPE is greater than that of ungrafted HDPE. It shows that the branch chains including –SO³Na and –COOH groups give a catalytically impetus to the charring.

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