Abstract
Crosslinked acrylonitrile/acrylamidoxime/2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AN/AAx/AMPS) based hydrogels was prepared by radical solution polymerization technique. The structures of hydrogels were characterized by FTIR analysis and the results were consistent with the expected structures. These hydrogels were used for the separation of Cd(II), Cu(II), and Fe(III) ions from their aqueous solutions. The influence of the uptake conditions such as pH, time, and initial feed concentration on the metal ion binding capacity of hydrogel was also tested. The selectivity of the hydrogel toward the different metal ions tested was Cd(II)>Fe(III)>Cu(II). The recovery of metal ions was also investigated in acid media.