Synthesis, characterization and adsorption study of the uranyl ions by hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol and methacrylic acid copolymers

The water swelling polymeric hydrogels were obtained by γ-initiated radiation copolymerization of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with methacrylic acid (MAA) and three-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) as cross-linking agent. The main regularities of PEG–MAA network formation, deformation properties, structure and thermal characteristics depending on copolymer composition, molecular weight of PEG have been studied. The sorption of uranyl ions by PEG–MAA hydrogels in comparison with homopolymer PMAA was investigated. The effect of uranyl ions concentration on sorption efficiency of hydrogels was shown. The ability to regeneration in desorption process was demonstrated for PEG–MAA hydrogels in comparison with PMAA gel.