Removal of anionic dyes from aqueous solution using poly [N-vinyl pyrrolidone/2-(methacryloyloxyethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride] superswelling hydrogels

A superswelling poly [N-vinyl pyrrolidone/2-(methacryloyloxyethyl)trimethyl ammonium chloride], poly(NVP/METAC) hydrogels were prepared by free radical polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker. The hydrogels were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and their surface morphology was determined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The influence of feed composition of both the monomers and crosslinker on equilibrium swelling and dye adsorption properties of the hydrogels were examined. The equilibrium swelling ratio and binding ratio of the hydrogel/dye systems greatly depends on the METAC and crosslinker concentration in the gels. The effects of pH of the medium and initial dye concentration on the adsorption were also studied. The binding ratio of the hydrogel/dye system increases in the following order: OR-II > RO-14 > RO-13.