Selective Removal of Mercury(II) Using Hydrogels Prepared by Gamma Radiation

Abstract

To selectively remove mercury(II), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HM) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylamide (HM/ACR) hydrogels were synthesized using radiation. These hydrogels were used in swelling, diffusion, and binding studies. Swelling parameters for HM/ACR−Hg2+ system are higher than those of HM−Hg2+ systems. Binding of Hg2+ has been observed to be C-type for HM and L-type for HM/ACR hydrogels. Binding parameters were calculated using Freundlich, Langmuir and Henry models. Effects of Hg2+ concentration, radiation dose, ACR ratio, temperature, counter ions were investigated. Binding and swelling of HM increased with the incorporation of acrylamide. HM/ACR hydrogels absorbed only Hg2+, and did not absorb heavy metal ions.