Radiation Synthesis and Characterization Study of Imprinted Hydrogels for Metal Ion Adsorption

Nickel ions were imprinted in the prepared acrylamide/citric acid P(AAm/CA) hydrogels by using gamma rays. The conditions influencing the preparation of imprinted hydrogels are optimized. The porosity and the characterization of the prepared P(AAm), P(AAm/CA), P(AAm/CA)-M hydrogels was preformed using (TGA) and (SEM). The gel content increases by increasing the monomer concentration and the irradiation dose up to 25 kGy. The swelling (%), rate constant (k), equilibrium ratio (Seq), diffusion constant (n) and the swelling behavior in response to pH value was studied. The Ni2+ imprinted hydrogel can considerably enhance the adsorption capacity and selectivity of the metal ion from wastewater.