HIDROGELES DE ACRILAMIDA/ÁCIDO ACRILICO Y DE ACRILAMIDA/POLI(ÁCIDO ACRILICO): ESTUDIO DE SU CAPACIDAD DE REMEDIACIÓN EN EFLUENTES INDUSTRIALES

Abstract

Hydrogels were synthesized from ammonium persulphate (PSA), N, N'- methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm), acrylamide and poly(acrylic acid), (AAm / PAAc) varying the acrylamide feeding ratio. The incorporation of AAm and PAAc in the networks was demonstrated by the characterization of the obtained gels with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Additionally, poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (AAm/AAc) hydrogels were synthesized and characterized to compare with the interpenetrated networks (IPNs). Absorption studies of pure water and metallic salts aqueous solutions were carried out, observing a larger hydration degree (swelling) when the concentration of PAAc was increased and the percentage of MBAAm decreased. The synthesized hydrogels in a 60/40 ratio, AAm / PAAc showed the best absorption properties, both in water as in metallic (Mg2 +, Cu2 +) solutions. The kinetic parameters showed that the acrylamide favors the absorption speed (k), while the presence of PAAc in the hydrogel increases the maximum swelling constant (w ∞). The hydrogels of AAm / PAAc were used in samples of waste waters collected from an automotive industry, located in the city of Cumaná (Sucre state, Venezuela). The results obtained yielded evidences of an efficient reception of metallic ions by the polymers, especially Mg2+.