Microstructure of gamma-ray developed polymeric nanocomposite respecting cesium and cobalt removal from aqueous solutions

The nanoparticles of fly ash (FA) were obtained by high energy ball milling of their parent Class C kind for subsequent synthesis of poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)/fly ash (poly(AM-AA)/FA) nanocomposite. The gamma-radiation induced polymerization was applied to achieve this concern. Different techniques were utilized to characterize such nanocomposite. The sorption abilities of the synthesized nanocomposite toward ⁶⁰Co²⁺ and ¹³⁴Cs ⁺ radionuclides were evaluated using batch and fixed-bed column approaches. Batches were designed at constants of solution pH (6.5-7.0 ± 0.02), nanocomposite particle size and dosage (106-250 μm and 0.1 L/g, respectively). The microstructure of such nanocomposite (<100 nm) was mainly amorphous with porous rough surfaces containing homogenous distribution of the incorporated nano-FA. About 56.46 and 47.9 mg/g of Co²⁺ and Cs⁺ were sorbed at equilibrium with an ion exchange reaction mechanism. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich D-R isotherm model parameters were calculated indicating the favorability of all sorption processes. The spontaneous and endothermic natures of sorption were observed by the calculated ΔG^° and ΔH^° thermodynamic parameters, respectively. Thomas, Yoon-Nelson and Adams Bohart models were fitted to the fixed-bed column data at varied conditions. The predicted sorption capacities of Thomas were very close to those obtained experimentally. Modeling of the fixed-bed column data dominates that the external mass transfer kinetics was predominant in the initial parts of the fixed-beds. Values required for retaining 50% of the initial sorbate concentration were extended from 89.05 to 68.55 to 177.2 and 149.3 min for ⁶⁰Co²⁺ and ¹³⁴Cs ⁺ radionuclides, respectively, by increasing bed depth from 1.5 to 3.0 cm. Modification of FA to its nano-scale form with the subsequent synthesis of a nanocomposite material having sorption capabilities made a duplicate beneficial environmental concern.

Studying the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of irradiated natural rubber latex/magnetite nanocomposite

Nanocomposites have received voluminous interest due to the combination of unique properties of organic and inorganic component in one material. In this class, magnetic polymer nanocomposites are of particular interest because of the combination of excellent magnetic properties, stability, and good biocompatibility. This paper reports the preparation and characterization of nanocomposites films based on natural rubber in latex state (NRL) loaded with different concentrations of semiconducting magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) (MNPs) (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30%). NRL (100%) and NRL/Fe3O4 nanocomposites were prepared by solution casting technique then, exposed to various irradiation doses (50, 70, 100 kGy).The nanocomposite’s morphological, and physical properties were investigated through various spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier-transformed infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies. The mechanical properties, including the tensile strength and elongation at break percentage (E b %) of the nanocomposites were also studied and compared with the 100% NRL films. Based on the results obtained from the mechanical study, it is found that the NRL/20% Fe3O4 nanocomposite film exhibited the highest tensile strength at 100 kGy. On the other hand, based on the conductivity study, it is found that, NRL/Fe3O4 nanocomposite with 10% magnetite exhibit the highest conductivity as the content of magnetite plays an important and effective role based on the high and homogeneous dispersity.