Efficient removal of pentachlorophenol from wastewater by novel hydrophobically modified thermo-sensitive hydrogels

Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-butyl acrylate) (PNIPAM-BA) hydrogels were synthesized by copolymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) with butyl acrylate (BA), which have been proposed as adsorbents for the efficient removal of hydrophobic organic pollutants, e.g. pentachlorophenol (PCP). Adsorption experiments showed high removal efficiencies of PCP. The isotherm experimental data of PCP fitted Langmuir model, and the adsorption capacity of PNIPAM-11% BA hydrogel was greater than that of the original PNIPAM hydrogel. It is possibly due to the enhanced interaction between the hydrophobically modified hydrogels and PCP. Moreover, the PNIPAM-BA hydrogels could be easily recycled by the desorption process at 323 K in solution.