Adsorption of methyl violet in aqueous solutions by poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels

Abstract

In this study, Acrylamide(AAm)/Acrylic Acid(AAc) monomer mixtures which contain different quantities of acrylic acid have been irradiated to form hydrogels with γ-radiation. Acrylamide/Acrylic Acid (AAm/AAc) monomer mixtures which contain 15%, 20%, 30% AAm and irradiated with 8.0 kGy were used for swelling and diffusion studies in water and solutions of methyl violet. Diffusions of water and methyl violet within the hydrogels were found to be non-Fickian in character. In experiments on the adsorption of methyl violet, Type-S adsorption was found. Poly(AAm-co-AAc) hydrogel adsorbed methyl violet, while poly(AAm) hydrogel did not adsorb any dye. (Δ H) Heat of adsorption, (Δ G) Free energy of adsorption, (Δ S) Entropy of adsorption were calculated. These results show that poly(AAm-co-AAc) hydrogels can be used as a sorbent for water pollutants such as dyes and treatment of these organic contaminants from wastewater.