Gamma radiation-induced grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto water hyacinth fibers

Water hyacinth fibers (Eichhornia crassipes) were functionalized using radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate by γ-rays from 60Co source. The simultaneous grafting technique was employed wherein the water hyacinth fibers were irradiated in nitrogen atmosphere in the presence of glycidyl methacrylate dissolved in water/methanol solvent. The effects of different grafting parameters to the grafting yield were evaluated. The optimal values of solvent, absorbed dose, dose rate, and concentration of monomer were found to be 1:3 (volume/volume) water–methanol solvent, 10 kGy, 8 kGy h−1 dose rate and 5% volume/volume glycidyl methacrylate, respectively. Using the optimum conditions, degree of grafting of approximately 58% was achieved. The grafted water hyacinth fibers were characterized using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The results of these tests confirmed the successful grafting of glycidyl methacrylate onto water hyacinth fibers.

► Glycidyl methacrylate was successfully grafted to water hyacinth fibers using radiation-induced graft polymerization.
► Grafting parameters (dose, dose rate, monomer concentration, solvent) were optimized.
► The grafting of glycidyl methacrylate was confirmed using FTIR-ATR, SEM and EDX.
► Thermal properties of unmodified and grafted water hyacinth fibers were analyzed.