Complexation of samarium ion with poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto polyethylene by radiation-induced method

Acrylic acid was graft-polymerized onto polyethylene powder by preirradiation method. The grafted powder (PE-g-AA) rapidaly adsorbed Sm^3? ion in high efficiency. The poly(acrylic acid) grafted to the surface region of PE acted as an effective chelating site for the relatively large Sm ion. The complex formation constant of Sm ion with PE-g-AA was much larger than those of Sm ion with poly(acrylic acid) and propionic acid and of Cu²⁺ ion with PE-g-AA.