Environmentally Responsive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co- poly(acrylic acid) Hydrogels for Separation of Toxic Metals and Organic Explosive Compounds from Water

摘要

Temperature and pH-sensitive hydrogels were prepared from N-isopropyl acrylamide and polyacrylic acid through co-polymerization using ammonium persulfate as the initiator, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylenediamine as the activator and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker. The gels were characterized on the basis of FTIR and NMR spectral analysis, SEM micrograms and swelling studies. The effect of pH and temperature on swelling behavior of these gels was investigated. Preliminary batch absorption experiments were conducted to explore the feasibility of separating As(V), Cr(VI), the explosive components cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX), and cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX), from aqueous medium using the hydrogels. The results of the study indicated that the hydrogels prepared are stable and the gels have potential environmental applications for separating pollutants from water.