Biocomposite formation using β-cyclodextrin as a biomaterial in poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid): preparation, characterization, and salinity profile

摘要

A biocomposite of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogel with beta-cyclodextrin as a biomaterial was prepared through one-pot synthesis in water as a green solvent. The formation of biocomposite was confirmed by advanced techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, DSC, TGA, and FE-SEM. In this report, straight forward and efficient synthetic protocol for biocomposite formation responded without any environmental hazard. Swelling capacity of P(AM-co-AA) and biocomposite was studied by addition of different saline solutions including monovalent, divalent, and trivalent salts. By addition of beta-cyclodextrin, the swelling and saline water-absorbing properties of the biocomposite hydrogel were significantly improved. In this regard, the possible formation mechanism of the composite hydrogel is also discussed. It is deduced that the biocomposite formation can be the result of intermolecular interactions between polymer and beta-cyclodextrin. The water-soluble polymer seems to have entered into the inner cavity of beta-cyclodextrin to form supramolecular biocomposite structure. The results indicate that the order of water uptake decreases with increase in valency of the salts. It is believed that this is an effective method to prepare supramolecular biocomposite hydrogel materials. Its applications can be extended in marine water industries as a basis for antifouling coating, waste water treatment, and even in medical field. Hence, the synthesized materials can be biodegradable, environment-friendly, and biocompatible inspired by the green chemistry concept.