Radiation grafting of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate on cotton linter and subsequent quaternization as new eco-friendly adsorbent for phosphate removal.

Quaternary ammonium salt type cotton linter (QCL) was synthesized by radiation grafting of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) onto cotton linter and subsequent quaternization. Batch and column adsorption experiments were used to evaluate the adsorption behaviors of the QCL for phosphate. The adsorption kinetics of QCL for phosphate were well obeyed pseudo-second-order mode. The adsorption isotherms were well fitted by Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich model. Column experiments showed that the breakthrough curves were dependent on the inlet concentration and flow rate but independent on space velocity. Moreover the QCL can be effectively regenerated for further repeated use at least 10 cycles. And QCL exhibited good selective adsorption for phosphate. Such high adsorption and desorption efficiency of QCL made it employing for phosphate adsorption in practical application.