In situ preparation of magnetite/cuprous oxide/poly(AMPS/NIPAm) for removal of methylene blue from waste water

Abstract

In situ techniques have attracted great attention for the formation of nanomaterials with controlled sizes, shapes and dispersion within supramolecular hydrogels. In the present work, the doping of copper oxides onto magnetite nanoparticles into hydrogels based on sodium 2-acylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate (AMPS) and N-isopropylacrylamide NIPAm copolymers was investigated. The contents, morphology and thermal stability of magnetite, cupreous oxide and doped copper oxides onto the magnetite nanoparticles were evaluated. The optimum conditions for removal the cationic dye methylene blue (MB), such as solution pH, concentration of adsorbents, contact time and stirring time, were determined to investigate the effect of MB concentrations on the removal efficiencies of the prepared adsorbents. The recyclability of the prepared AMPS/NIPAm composites for the removal of MB was examined for up to six cycles without changes in removal effectiveness.

Preparation of magnetite and silver poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid‐co‐acrylamide) nanocomposites for adsorption and catalytic degradation of methylene blue water pollutant

“…It was previously reported that the in situ technique is preferred for the formation of metal and metal oxide NPs inside the polymer templet to form polymer nanocomposites . The dispersion of metal or metal oxide into the polymer templet increased with increasing chelation of metal cations with the polymer reactive groups . In this respect, the present work aimed to form Fe 3 O 4 and Ag NPs inside the AMPS/AAm hydrogel or microgel by reduction of the absorbed metal cations using ammonia (NH 3 ) and NaBH 4 , respectively, as represented in the Experiment section and Scheme .…”

“…The AMPS/AAm gel was selected as a templet to prepare magnetic and silver nanocomposites based on the reactivity ratios of AMPS to AAm which confirm the formation of alternate to random copolymers with high contents of AAm to AMPS . It was previously reported that the in situ technique is preferred for the formation of metal and metal oxide NPs inside the polymer templet to form polymer nanocomposites . The dispersion of metal or metal oxide into the polymer templet increased with increasing chelation of metal cations with the polymer reactive groups .…”

“…Moreover, nano‐hybrid magnetic materials have been subsequently used to adsorb water pollutants by magnetic separation or photocatalytic degradation of pollutants . The magnetic iron oxide polymer composites or nano‐hybrids can promote the magnetic separation of nano‐adsorbents after the adsorption of pollutants from water . Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have low removal efficiency when used as adsorbents for water pollutants due to their agglomeration.…”

“…It was previously reported that diquat herbicide is not adsorbed by Fe 3 O 4 NPs . Hence additional magnetite surface treatments are required to increase the sorption of pollutants on adsorbents by embedding the iron oxide into polymer matrices using the in situ technique to control their magnetic properties so they can be easily magnetically separated after the water treatment …”

“…The application of nanocomposite polymer hydrogels in the field of water treatment requires mechanically strong gels with long‐term reusability and controlled biodegradability . In our previous work, it was found that the in situ technique is more effective for the preparation of polymer nanocomposite adsorbents than the mixing technique . In the present work, 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and acrylamide (AAm) were selected as ionic and nonionic monomers, respectively, to prepare hydrogels and microgels.…”