SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, SWELLING BEHAVIOR AND DIFFUSION STUDIES OF POLY(N-CYCLOHEXYLACRYLAMIDECO- ACRYLAMIDE-2-ACRYLAMIDO-2-METHYLPROPANE SODIUM SULPHONATE) SILVER NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGELS

In the present study Poly(N-cyclohexylacrylamide-co-acrylamide-2acrylamido-2-methyl-1propane sodium sulfonate) Ag nanocomposite hydrogels was synthesized by in situ free-radical copolymerization in water/methanol medium using ammonium persulfate as the initiator, tetramethylethylenediamine as accelerator and N,N’methylenediaminde as cross-linker at 60oC. Analysis and characterization of the silver nanocomposite hydrogel was performed through monitoring its swelling behavior, diffusion studies, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM/EDX and XRD studies. Effects of monomer ratio on the swelling properties of the samples were investigated. Samples were used to remove organic dye (methylene blue) and heavy metal ion (Cd 2+ ) from aqueous solution and it was found that increase in monomer concentration into the hydrogel network increased the adsorption capacity of the silver nanocomposite hydrogel.