Application of poly(acrlymide‐<i>co</i>‐sodium methacrylate) hydrogels in copper and cadmium removal from aqueous solution

Abstract

The application of poly(acrylamide‐ co ‐sodium methacrylate) hydrogel for the removal of Cu 2+ and Cd 2+ ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated as a function of pH, adsorbent dose and temperature. FTIR spectra showed that –NH 2 and –COOH groups are involved in both metal ions adsorption which followed pseudo‐first order kinetics. Non‐linear regression analysis of six isotherms, Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich‐Peterson, Toth, Dubinin‐Radushkevich and Sips, have been applied to the sorption data, while the best interpretation was given by Redlich‐Peterson. Based on the separation factor, R L , the Cu 2+ and Cd 2+ ions adsorption is favorable. The maximum adsorption of 24.05 mg/g (48%) for Cu 2+ ions and 32.99 mg/g (66%) for Cd 2+ ions has been obtained at pH 5.0 and sorbent dosage of 300 mg. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 824–834, 2014