Investigation of copper (Cu2+) adsorption performances and gamma radiation dose effect of polymeric hydrogel

In present study, series of gamma irradiated poly(acrylic acid)/Penytriethoxytrisilane (PTES) based hydrogels were synthesized. The hydrogels were used for the adsorption of Cu2+ from the aqueous solution. Batch adsorption experiments were performed by varying contact time (0-10 hours), pH value (2-6), hydrogels weight (15-155 mg) and initial Cu2+ concentration (0.003–90 mg/L). The results indicated that lowering the gamma irradiation dose (30-15 kGy) and PTES amount (1.65-0.83 μmol) into hydrogel polymeric networks, improved the initial rate of adsorption and final adsorption capacity of hydrogel for Cu2+. AA40/15 had 143.4mg/g Cu2+ adsorption capacity higher than AA80/30 which is 106.0mg/g. Hydrogels exhibited maximum o adsorption capacity for Cu2+ within a wide pH range. All adsorption data was described by the pseudo—first order and second order kinetic model equations and isotherm data by Langmuir model. FTIR spectra analysis before and after adsorption of Cu2+ on the AA hydrogels gave detail analysis of adsorption mechanism. The behavior of adsorption expressed that the enhanced adsorption capacity was due to the porous structure and e presence of functional groups onto surface of adsorbate. It is expected this polymeric hydrogel has potential to work as alternative biomedical sorbents and environmental use as pH altered.