Radiation synthesis and characterization of heterogeneous magnetic nanocomposites of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate for catalytic degradation of sandocryl blue dye

Recently, nanostructured polymeric materials with unique morphological and structural properties became promising for removal of the dyes and contaminants from wastewater and industrial effluent. Herein, radiation preparation of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hydrogel and heterogeneous poly(HEMA) magnetic nanocomposites incorporated with various contents of Fe3O4 or Fe3O4/PbO hybrid nanoparticles (NPs), namely poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4 and poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposites were investigated to promote the decolorization of sandocryl blue dye. Fe3O4 or Fe3O4/PbO hybrid NPs were synthesized by alkaline co-precipitation method. Characterization of nanocomposites was confirmed by FTIR, TEM, XRD, SEM, EDS and VSM. XRD results of pure Fe3O4/PbO NPs and poly (HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposites showed successful coupling between Fe3O4 and PbO NPs within the poly(HEMA) networks. TEM results confirmed that the Fe3O4/PbO NPs have spherical shape and highly dispersed with average diameter of 16.7-23.4 nm, Both poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4 and poly (HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO exhibit ferromagnetic behavior as confirmed through VSM measurements. By comparing the possible applicability of prepared poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4 and poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposites for the decolorization of sandocryl blue dye, it is concluded that the poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposite of 25% hybrid NPS ratio was the highest decolorization effect even after 5th cycles of regeneration. The effect of contact time, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and pH on dye decolorization onto poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO were intensively evaluated. The maximum decolorization poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposite for dye was 99.8% after 90 min at pH 9 using 250 mg/L dye concentration. The pHzpc value of poly (HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO was found to be 6.6 as estimated by mass titration method. Based on he kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic studies the discoloration process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature, best fitted by the pseudo-second order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model. The synthesized hybrid nanostructured catalyst poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO could be used as powerful catalyst for degradation of dye pollutants from wastewater with high decolorization efficiency as well as the degradation of mixture of dyes composed of methyl orange, acid red 18 and sandocryl blue dye of high concentration.

Automated summary

The study investigated poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4 and poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposites for decolorization of a blue dye, finding that the poly(HEMA)-Fe3O4/PbO nanocomposite with a 25% hybrid NPS ratio exhibited the highest decolorization effect even after 5 cycles of regeneration.