Preparation for graft copolymers of sawdust/vinyl monomers and their application for removal of dye

A kind of cationic exchanging resin of carboxyl sawdust (CSD) was fabricated through the hydrolysis of graft copolymers of sawdust with acrylonitrile (SAN) and sawdust with acrylamide (SAA) that were made by initiator Fe²⁺/H₂O₂. A study of the graft copolymerization was conducted for initiator usage, vinyl monomer usage, and reaction temperature. The hydrolysis under basic/acid conditions was also studied for the yield and acid value of CSD followed to adsorb Basic Pink dye (BPD). Our results show the following: (1) graft copolymers (SAN and SAA) with a high rate of graft copolymerization are readily prepared by suitable usages of initiator and vinyl monomer under a certain temperature; (2) adsorption capacity of CSD is relative to pH of BPD solution and reaches the most adsorption capacity at pH ≈ 6; (3) adsorption capacity of CSD increases along with the augment of its acid value; and (4) the adsorption capacity of the CSD toward BPD increases along with augment of initial concentration of the adsorbate and reaches about 500 mg/g.