Graft copolymerization of polyacrylamide onto gum arabic was carried out in aqueous medium at room temperature (30 o C) using various initiator (ceric ion) and monomer (acrylamide) concentrations. The extent of graft copolymer formation was determined in terms of percentage graft yield. The results obtained showed that the percentage yield of the graft copolymer is a function of both the initiator and monomer concentrations. The grafted copolymer was characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The IR spectral data for pure Gum Arabic (GA) and that of Gum Arabic-grafted Polyacrylamide (GA-g-PAAM) indicate that grafting actually occurred. The successful grafting of polyacrylamide onto gum arabic will enhance the search for materials transformation through chemical derivatization with attendant expansion of their spectra of application.

Graft copolymerization of polyacrylamide onto gum arabic was carried out in aqueous medium at room temperature (30 o C) using previously optimized concentrations of initiator (ceric ion) and the monomer (acrylamide). The percentage graft yield was high (70%) due to optimization of reaction conditions. Reactive blends of Moringa oleifera (MO) and the graft copolymer (GA-g-PAAM) were also synthesized in different ratios of MO to GAg -PAAM. The blended and unblended graft copolymers and Moringa oleifera were characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Flocculation capabilities of GAg -PAAM, the reactive blends (RB), the physical blends (PB) and Moringa oleifera were studied on turbid river water using UV-Visible spectrophotometry at three different wavelengths (λ=400, λ=600 and λ=800 nm) in order to observe the effect of wavelength on flocculation efficiency. The results generally showed that the flocculation efficiency was a function of both flocculation time allowed and the wavelength of UV-radiation used. Hence, the flocculation efficiency was higher for longer flocculation times and longer wavelengths of UV-radiation and vice versa. The flocculation efficiencies obtained after 24 hours at λ=800 nm followed the order below: MO (99.61%) > GAg -PAAM (94.30%) > MO & GAg -PAAM 3:1 RB (91.16%) > 1:3 RB (89.58%) > 1:1 PB (87.07%) > 1:1 RB (82.35%). The sludge produced by the above water treatment chemicals was small in volume, biodegradable and consequently did not promote environmental degradation. Through chemical derivatization, gum arabic was transformed into a water treatment chemical with more advantages over conventional coagulants.

Graft copolymers of polyacrlamide-grafted gum arabic were synthesized, blended with Moringa oleifera and characterized by IR spectroscopy. The potentials of the products to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions were studied at room temperature (30 o C) and this was experimented on iron (III) ions (Fe 3+). The extent of metal ions removal was determined from sorption capacity values of several sorbents. The results showed that all the polymeric products investigated displayed significant sorption capacities. The abilities of the grafted product polyacrylamide-grafted gum arabic (GA-g-PAAM) to clarify wastewater to a high degree and also remove heavy metals from contaminated water systems, are good indications of the importance of material transformation, especially gum arabic which is hitherto, an emulsifier, and other products of phytoorigin. The sorption capacities of the synthesized and natural products could lead to a blissful expansion of the spectrum of substances that can be used to detoxify our environment through well guided technologies.