Uranyl Ion Sorption Characteristics of Novel Polymer/Montmorillonite/Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Composite Biosorbent-Based AAm/AMPS Hydrogels and Semi-IPNs

In this report, uranyl ion sorption performance from aqueous solutions has been investigated by highly swollen novel polymer/clay-composite biosorbent-based acrylamide (AAm)/2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) hydrogels and semi-IPNs composed of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and/or montmorillonite (MMT). For this, AAm/AMPS hydrogels with CMC and/or MMT were prepared by free radical polymerization in an aqueous solution of monomers, CMC and MMT using ammonium persulfate/N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine as a redox-initiating pair in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate as a cross-linker. Swelling experiments were performed in water at 25 degrees C, gravimetrically. Some swelling kinetic and diffusion parameters were calculated. Water diffusion was found to be non-Fickian in character. The sorption performance of uranyl ions into the hydrogels was studied by a spectrophotometric method at 25 degrees C. Sorption capacity, removal efficiency, and partition coefficient of the hydrogels were investigated. Removal efficiency was changed within a range of 20.52-67.68%. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.