ISSN 4391-3199
African Journal of Chemistry ISSN: 4391-3199 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 123-131, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Cu (II) ion removal from aqueous solution by PHEMA magnetic nanogel
Nefertiti Morsi1*, Mohammed Rufi2, Ibrahim O. Mubarak1 and Hassan V. Hamama1
1Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
2Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 3 December, 2015
Abstract
Magnetic nanogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N,N’-methylene-bis-(acrylamide)(MBA) were prepared via photochemical method under UV irradiation. The structure and compositions of magnetic nanogels are characterized by FTIR, TGA and TEM. TGA measurement indicates that magnetic nanogels contain about 85-92% magnetite. The prepared magnetic nanogels were used to remove cupper ions from industrial water. The proposed mechanism was dependant on the interaction between the surface hydroxyl groups of polymer-Fe3O4 composite and the cupper ions present in the solution. Several factors affecting the absorption capability were studied. These include: structure of nanogels, % of MBA to HEMA, effect of pH and effect of temperature. The obtained data revealed that the maximum absorption capacity was attained at pH 6 and at 40°C. The efficiency decreased remarkably at acidic pH and at a temperature higher than 40°C. It was also found that the ratio of 10% HEMA : 20 mg MBA achieved maximum copper absorption. Furthermore, the reusability of the prepared nanogels was demonstrated.
Key words: Nanoparticles, magnetic, copper ions, removal.