SELECTIVE REMOVAL OF MERCURY(II) USING HYDROGELS PREPARED BY GAMMA RADIATION

To selectively remove mercury(II), 2-hydroxy-ethyl methacrylate (HM) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylamide (HM/ACR) hydrogels were synthesized using radiation. These hydrogels were used in swelling, diffusion, and binding studies. Swelling parameters for HM/ACR-Hg2+ system are higher than those of HM-Hg2+ systems. Binding of Hg2+ has been observed to be C-type for HM and L-type for HM/ACR hydrogels. Binding parameters were calculated using Freundlich, Langmuir and Henry models. Effects of Hg2+ concentration, radiation dose, ACR ratio, temperature, counter ions were investigated. Binding and swelling of HM increased with the incorporation of acrylamide. HM/ACR hydrogels absorbed only Hg2+, and did not absorb heavy metal ions.

Automated summary

Selective removal of mercury(II) using radiation-synthesized hydrogels was investigated. HM/ACR hydrogels showed higher swelling parameters and better binding capacity for Hg2+ compared to HM hydrogels. The binding behavior of Hg2+ was observed to be C-type for HM hydrogels and L-type for HM/ACR hydrogels. The binding parameters were calculated using Freundlich, Langmuir, and Henry models, and the effects of various factors were studied.