Preparation and characterization of metallo-crosslinked polymer as pollutant scavengers

Abstract

As a new approach, the influence of acrylamide (AM) feed ratio onto morphologies, thermal properties and swelling ratios of poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) [P(AA-co-AM)] hydrogels were discussed. The textural and thermal properties of acrylic acid/ acrylamide hydrogels were studied using SEM, TGA, and DSC and thermoporometric measurements. Also, mathematical modelling for fabricated hydrogels were operated using Monte Carlo simulations. With an increase of the weight perecentages of AM in the feed ratio, the hydrogels owed more irregular surfaces of interconnected micro- and meso-sized pore dimensions accompanied by relatively lower thermal stability besides advanced swelling ratios. The adsorptive behaviour of P(AA-co-AM) hydrogels were discovered announcing the rational stimulated influence of AM toward removal of methylene blue dye from solution. It is worth mentioning that just only 20% w/w of AM in the feed ratio provided advanced removal for methylene blue with superior efficiency, stability and periodicity through its unique modal pore filling character.

Moreover, our vision summarized in refinding poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) hydrogel as fruitful media for tuning in-situ metal nanoparticulates (particularly Cu) through dominating their structure, size, shape and activity toward oxidative decoloration of organic pollutants like methylene blue dye (MB).