Modifying polypropylene membranes with interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) through the incorporation of poly(glycidyl methacrylate-

N

-methyl-D-glucamine) (P(GMA-NMG)) was performed by

in situ

synthesis

via

radical polymerization. The surface of the polypropylene membrane was activated by hydrophilic grafted polyelectrolyte

and then

pressure injection was used for the impregnation of the reactive solution in the membrane. Two types of pore-filled membranes were synthesized

chelating interpenetrating homopolymer networks of P(GMA-NMG)

and chelating-ion exchange interpenetrating polymer networks (

e.g

.

P(GMA-NMG)/P(AA)

P(GMA-NMG)/P(AMPSA)

and P(GMA-NMG)/P(ClVBTA)). After their synthesis

the modified polypropylene membranes were characterized using techniques such as the electrokinetic potential

SEM

FT-IR

and Donnan dialysis to corroborate the chromium ion transport. The P(GMA-NMG) and complex network membranes exhibited a hydrophilic character with a water-uptake capacity between 20% and 35% and a percentage of modification between 4.0% and 7.0% in comparison with the behavior of the unmodified polypropylene membrane. Hexavalent chromium ion

s were efficiently transported from the food chamber at pH 9.0 when the 65.2% MTA1 P(ClVBTA) homopolymer IPN membrane and 48.5% MTAG P(GMA-NMG)/P(ClVBTA) IPN membrane were used. Similarly

hexavalent chromium ions were removed from the food chamber at pH 3.0 when MTAG (63.30%) and MTA1 (35.68%) were used in 1 mol·L

-1

NaCl solution as the extraction reagent.