Dense Polyacrylic Acid-Immobilized Polypropylene Non-woven Fabrics Prepared Via UV-Induced Photograft Technique for the Recovery of Rare Earth Ions from Aqueous Solution

In this work, a novel and easy-separating rare earth adsorbent (PAA/PPNWF) was successfully synthesized by generating dense polyacrylic acid (PAA) on the surface of polypropylene nonwoven fabric (PPNWF) via UV-induced photograft technology. PAA/PPNWF was characterized by optical microscope (OM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ce 3+ was used as a model for investigating the adsorption performance of PAA/PPNWF. The maximum adsorption for Ce 3+ reached 364.21 mg g −1 (initial concentration = 600 mg L −1 , pH 6, T = 303.15 K) and the adsorption achieved equilibrium quickly within 40 min. PAA/PPNWF could be regenerated easily and there was small loss of its adsorption capacity after regeneration (keeping 86.7% adsorption capacity after even 8 times adsorption–desorption cycle). Moreover, 96% of Ce 3+ was recycled efficiently from simulated wastewater with low pH and concentration within 60 min by PAA/PPNWF, which reflects application potential of this adsorbent. Graphic Abstract