Environmentally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylaminde)-co-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels for separation of toxic metals and organic explosive compounds from water

Authors: Boddu, Veera; NAISMITH, NATHANIEL - Us Army Engineer Research And Dvelopment Center; PATEL, HIREN - Us Army Engineer Research And Dvelopment Center

Submitted to: Journal of Polymers and the Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2018
Publication Date: 1/21/2019
Citation: Boddu, V.M., Naismith, N.K., Patel, H.R. 2019. Environmentally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylaminde)-co-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels for separation of toxic metals and organic explosive compounds from water. Journal of Polymers and the Environment. 27(3):571-580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-018-1352-y.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-018-1352-y

Interpretive Summary: Hydrogels are polymer materials that have high water absorption capacity. Hydrogels are the critical materials that are used in diapers and other hygiene products. This research focuses on developing polymer gels for absorption and separation of toxic metals such as chromium, arsenic and other organic pollutants from drinking water. The research concepts developed will be useful for developing bio-based polymer gels. Developing bio-based polymer gels using starch and other agricultural materials will increase the demand for commodity crops and the farm economy.

Technical Abstract: 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’-tetramethylenediamene as the activator and N,N’-methylene bisacrylamide as cross linker. 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 adsorption experiments were conducted to explore the feasibility of separating As(V), Cr(VI), the explosive components cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX), and cyclcotetramethylene-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.