Sorption for removing Lauths Violets in aqueous solutions by chemically crosslinked poly(AAm-co-SA) hydrogels

Summary Superswelling poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) hydrogels were prepared by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution of acrylamide (AAm) with sodium acrylate (SA) as comonomer and a multifunctional crosslinker such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). In the sorption studies, binding of a cationic dye such as Lauths Violet (Thionin, LV) onto chemically crosslinked poly(AAm-co-SA) hydrogels has been investigated. Sorption of LV onto poly(AAm-co-SA) hydrogels was studied by batch sorption technique at 25°C. In the experiments of the sorption, C type sorption in the Giles classification system was found. Some binding parameters such as initial binding constant (K_i), equilibrium constant (K), monolayer coverage (n), site-size (u), and maximum fractional occupancy (O) for poly(AAm-co-SA) hydrogels-LV binding system were calculated by using Klotz and Scatchard linearization methods. Finally, the mass of sorbed LV per gram of dry hydrogel (q) was calculated to be 3,9–5,9mg LV per gram for hydrogels.