Modification of Hibiscus cannabinus fiber by graft copolymerization: application for dye removal

Hibiscus cannabinus fiber was modified by graft copolymerization with vinyl monomer acrylic acid (AAc) and binary mixture of AAc and acrylamide (AAm). The different reaction parameters were optimized to get maximum grafting yield. The optimized percent grafting for AAc and binary mixture (AAc + AAm) was found to be 93.6 and 74.6%, respectively, at the molar concentration of 0.35M for AAc and 0.4M for AAm. The raw AAc grafted H. cannabinus fiber (Hcf-g-polyAAc) and AAc + AAm grafted H. cannabinus fiber (Hcf-g-polyAAc + AAm) were characterized by FTIR and scanning electron microscopy. The modified H. cannabinus fibers were used as potential candidate for the removal of dye from aqueous system.