Absorption of metal ions and swelling properties of poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels

Abstract

Hydrogels of acrylic acid and itaconic acid has been synthesized with different monomers ratios. The swelling process of the different xerogels immersed in water and salt solutions has been studied. The swelling of hydrogels loaded with metal cations (Cu2+, Zn2+) was also investigated. The swelling process was monitored by the increase in the weight of hydrogel as a function of time. The absorption properties of metal ions were studied by using the hydrogel, and different concentrations of copper and zinc solutions (prepared from sulphate salts). The influence of pH on the absorption process was studied. For the absorption of metal ions, the amount of ions absorbed within the hydrogel can be calculated from the initial and equilibrium concentrations of the metal ions in aqueous phase, the weight of the hydrogel, and the volume of solution used. Metal absorption increased when pH, salt concentration in external solution and itaconic acid content is levelled. The swelling isotherms which consisted of an initial fast increase levelled off asymptotically to the equilibrium swelling limit. The experimental data clearly suggest that our hydrogels follow a second-order kinetics for both cases (unload and metal loaded). The kinetics rate constant and the equilibrium water content, K, have been calculated for every monomer ratio from the experimental data according to the kinetics equation. Both magnitudes decreased as the itaconic acid content decreases in the xerogels.