Study in sorption of Cr6+ and NO3− on poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid) hydrogels

Hydrophilic polymers with pendant functional groups form polymeric supports for various technological applications such as ion exchange, reagents, anchoring agents and catalysts. In the present study, 2- acrylamido-2-methyl propane-1-sulphonic acid (AAmPSA) was polymerized by chemical initiation method using ammonium per sulphate (APS) as initiator in the aqueous medium. The crosslinked networks were synthesized by using N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (N,N-MBAAm) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinkers. The hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, nitrogen analysis and viscosity measurement studies to establish structure–property relationship and also to find evidence of network formation. Water uptake by hydrogels was studied as a function of time, temperature and pH. Potential of synthesized hydrogels for ion sorption was investigated by using Cr6+ as the model. In a novel research plan, Cr6+ loaded hydrogels were used as supports for NO3− uptake as a function of ionic strength of solution and pH.