Effective Removal of Copper Ions and Dyes from Aqueous Solutions by Polymeric Nanoparticles Prepared by Gamma Radiation

In the present investigation, gamma radiation was used to prepare poly (vinyl alcohol/acrylamide) magnetic iron-silver nanoparticles, P(PVA/AAm)-FeAg hydrogels as adsorbent materials for waste water treatment. The prepared hydrogels were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results confirm the thermal stability enhancement by incorporation of the nanometals into the prepared hydrogel. The EPR results showed that the P(PVA/AAm)-Fe hydrogels exhibited larger magnetization than the P(PVA/AAm)-Fe-Ag hydrogls. The size measurement of nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which compared with the results of the dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirmed that the prepared hydrogels were in the nanoscale. The swelling percent behavior of P(PVA/AAm)-Fe-Ag hydrogel nanoparticles at different pH media was carried out. The results of the adsorption studies indicated high adsorption capacity of P(PVA/AAm)-Fe-Ag nanoparticles toward the removal of Cu+2, methylne blue (MB) and methyl green (MG) dyes from aqueous solutions.