Synthesis of polymer-surfactants by gamma irradiation for removal nickel ions from aqueous solution

Abstract

Two amphoteric surfactants 2-((3-carboxyacryloxy)oxy)-3-(hexadecyloxy)-N,N,N-trimethylpropane-1-ammonium chloride and N-(2-(carboxylatomethoxy)-3-(hexadecyloxypropyl)dimethyl glycinate were synthesized and characterized by different techniques. Then, two polymer surfactants were prepared from the reaction of acrylic acid and acrylamide with two amphoteric surfactants by gamma irradiation. The functional and bond structure of these polymer surfactant compounds were established by FT-IR. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) and surface tensions were measured and the values lie in the range 0.0005 - 0.00141 mol L-1. The swelling of the two polymer surfactants was studied. The swelling percentages of the two surfactants are 1790 and 1492 %, respectively. The copolymers hydrogel were used in removal of heavy metal from waste water. The factors affecting the removal of heavy metal as contact time, initial concentration of metal ion, and temperature were investigated. It was found that the percentage of removal of nickel ion increases with increasing the time and temperature.