Hybrid nanocomposite prepared by graft copolymerization of 4-acryloyl morpholine onto chitosan in the presence of organophilic montmorillonite

Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was synthesized by cationic exchange between Na-MMT and Vinyl benzyl triphenyl phosphonium chloride in an aqueous solution. A new nanocomposite consisting of 4-acryloyl morpholine-chitosan and OMMT was prepared by γ -ray irradiation polymerization. The intercalation spacing of these nanocomposites was investigated with X-ray diffraction and its thermal stabilities by adding nanocomposites were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis. The nanocomposites showed improved resistance to water absorption. The most interesting application of the nanocomposite is its ability for adsorption purification of waste water containing acid dyes. One of the objectives in this study was to develop new and active prepared copolymers which can be examined for their antimicrobial activities. It was found that the copolymer nanocomposite based on phosphonium group and some heavy metal ions in its structure having broad spectrum against pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aurius, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus fungi.