Preparation and adsorption properties of the chelating fibers containing amino groups

Four kinds of amino‐group‐containing chelating fibers were prepared by reacting diethylenetriamine, diethanolamine, diethylamine, and aminopyridine, respectively, with a grafted fiber PVA‐ g ‐GMA containing epoxy groups. The γ‐ray preirradiation initiated graft copolymerization of GMA onto PVA fiber, the functionalization of the grafted fiber PVA‐ g ‐GMA with amino compounds, and the adsorption properties of the obtained chelating fibers were systematically investigated. It is concluded that with increasing monomer concentration, reaction time, and temperature, the grafting percentage increases significantly. In the functionalization of the grafted fiber, reaction time, temperature, solvent, and amount of amine used greatly influence the reaction. 1,4‐Dioxane is a reasonable solvent for the reaction. The chelating fibers present great adsorption amounts and high adsorption rates for Cu 2+ ion and Au 3+ ion. Among the chelating fibers, the fiber with diethylenetriamine group is the most reasonable chelating fiber for the adsorption of Cu 2+ and Au 3+ . The chelating fibers present good selectivities for Cu 2+ in the solution with Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , and Zn 2+ , while presenting quite high selectivities for Au 3+ ion in the solution with Cu 2+ , Au 3+ , Zn 2+ , and Cr 3+ ions. The chelating fiber with diethanolamine or diethylamine can reduce the adsorbed Au 3+ into metallic gold.