FIBER HAVING ABILITY TO ADSORB METALLIC ION AND ADSORPTION OF METALLIC ION

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a copolyamide fiber excellent in an ability to separate and adsorb metallic ions, by partially N-methylolating a polyamide fiber and converting part of the iminic hydrogen atoms of the polymer chain into hydroxymethyl groups. CONSTITUTION:A polyamide fiber (e.g., nylon 6 fiber) is N-methylolated by reaction with formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst such as phosphoric acid to replace 5-70mol.% of the hydrogen atoms in the imino groups of the polymer chain by hydroxymethyl groups. Since the obtained copolyamide fiber has hydroxymethyl groups, it can be desirably used as an ion exchange fiber having an excellent ability to adsorb metallic ions and an ability to separate and remove metallic ions. An examples of the obtained copolyamide fiber is a fiber having a structure of the formula (wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain and/or an aromatic ring residue, and 0.05=x=0.7).