Investigation of Heavy Metal Ion Adsorption Characteristics of Poly(N,N Dimethylamino Ethylmethacrylate) Hydrogels

Abstract

In this study, Poly(N,N dimethyl‐amino ethylmethacrylate) (Poly(DMAEMA)) hydrogels with varying compositions were prepared in the form of rods by irradiating ternary mixtures of N,N‐dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate/ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate/water with gamma rays at ambient temperature. Swelling studies of poly (DMAEMA) hydrogels were performed at different pH values and maximum swelling values reached at pH 2. The adsorption characteristics of Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Co(II) ions to poly(N,N dimethylamino ethylmethacrylate) hydrogels were investigated by a batch process. The order of affinity based on amount of metal ion uptake was found as follows: Cu(II)>Zn(II)?Co(II)>Pb(II) >> Ni(II)>Cd(II). In the adsorption studies of Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II) ions the Langmuir type adsorption isotherms were observed for all gel systems.