Development of 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) grafted onto branched polyethylenimine (PEI) onto bacterial cellulose sheet by gamma-induced irradiation technique for Cu\(_{2+}\) ion adsorption

Bacterial cellulose extracted and purified from Nata de coco was employed as a platform for Cu2+ ion adsorption. 4-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) was successfully grafted at the hydroxyl position by using gamma irradiation. The optimum was typically related to VBC concentration of 2% (v/v) and a radiation dose of 50 kGy. FTIR significantly reported the functional group of C-Cl related to VBC. No change of crystallinity and morphology was observed. The thermal decomposition was stable up to 200℃. The modification of branched polyethylenimine (PEI) was prepared in order to change the functionality to N‒H stretching. This was expected to adsorb Cu2+ ion. It was evaluated under the variation of concentration, pH and time. Efficiency reported that concentration of 50 mg∙L‒1, pH of 7, and adsorption time of 2 h were reported. The results exhibited that gamma ray–induced grafting, followed by PEI functionalization onto bacterial cellulose surface was considered as one of the most effective strategies for effective platform for Cu2+ ions in aqueous systems. It was remarkably noted that modified bacterial cellulose extremely provided the great promise as the eco-friendly platform for wastewater remediation.