Selective adsorption of cationic dyes from colored noxious effluent using a novel N-tert-butylmaleamic acid based hydrogels

Abstract

The present research offers an innovative cyclic approach to cleaning colored water of toxic dyes due to the increased need for pure and safe water. Novel anionic hydrogels were fabricated via free radical copolymerization method in the presence of acrylamide or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as neutral comonomer and N-tert-butylmaleamic acid as anionic monomer with the addition of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker. Hydrogels were examined for morphology and chemical structure using SEM and FTIR analyses. The swelling and adsorption behavior of the hydrogels with different molar ratios were examined. The parameters affecting the adsorption of the model dyes of CV and MB onto the hydrogel were investigated such as initial concentration of dye, various comonomer ratios, dose of hydrogel, and temperature. The adsorption behavior was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model. Also, the thermodynamic analysis and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model revealed that the adsorption of the dyes onto hydrogels was applicable in a wide temperature range as well as with physical and weak chemical interactions. TBMAC-based hydrogels were found to be a cost-effective prospective candidate with great regeneration efficiency and selectivity to be used as an adsorbent to effectively remove hazardous dyes from industrial waste.