Preparation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Cellulose Based Smart Interpenetrating: Polymer Networks for Water Retention Applications

Abstract

Water scarcity considered as one of the main challenges that facing the development activities in many semi-arid and arid regions globally. There were many reasons such as environmental pollution, population growth and climate change that led to water deficiency in many arid areas such as Egypt. A lot of trends were used to reduce the stress of the scarcity of water resources with dramatic population growth. So, applying superabsorbent hydrogels that had the massive features of keeping water was the best solution for reducing the effect of water scarcity that faces vulnerable arid areas. As, it is a continuous demand for developing high efficient superabsorbents materials with high water retention capability, rapid metal ions removal, reusable, and effective in cost, IPNs (Interpenetrating polymer networks) were applied as they possess these features. Also, as the removal of heavy metals is very important for environmental remediation, IPNs were used for removing copper metal ions at different concentrations. The thesis was divided into three chapters, which included 68 illustration figures, 2 schemes, 17 tables, and 228 scientific references. Chapter One: Introduction The first chapter explained the problem of water shortage, types of water sources, types of wastewater pollutants and its treatment methods. It also described types of hydrogels, different synthesis methods, and its different types as super absorbent hydrogels and smart hydrogels, also types of polymer networks and their applications in the presence of castor oil. Chapter two: Experimental The second chapter explained the method of preparing (semi and Full) superabsorbent polymer networks using free- radical polymerization in the presence and absence of castor oil. The semi-interpenetrating polymer network was cross-linked using methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) and another crosslinker was added, which is glutaraldehyde (GA) to form a full interpenetrating polymer network. Also different techniques in characterizing chemical compounds were mentioned as well as studying water retention efficiencies of interpenetrating polymer networks under different environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, and pH and their ability to swell and release water several times. Also, method for removing different concentrations of copper metal ions as a heavy metal from the aqueous solution and studying its kinetic mechanism were mentioned. As well as Studying the mechanism of water swelling in the prepared hydrogels and studying the resistance properties of some selected hydrogels towards gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Chapter three: Results and discussion.