This study is the rst report of the preparation of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) hydrogels rapidly crosslinked with divinyl sulfone in a single step and single pot. To develop the physical and chemical features of hydrogels, Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were combined with the crosslinked HES. In addition to swelling studies, structural characterization of the samples was conducted with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). For the removal of malachite green model dye by GO-HES, the effects of GO content, solution concentration, temperature, contact duration, dosage and pH on varying adsorption features were researched. Additionally, adsorption isotherms, kinetic and thermodynamic systematics were analyzed. The maximum adsorption capacity of GO-HES composite hydrogel was found to be 89.3 mg/g for Langmuir isotherm. The possible adsorption mechanism of the composite hydrogels for malachite green dye involved electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interactions. In addition to reasonable cost and simple synthesis method, the prepared composite materials have potential use in wastewater treatment as adsorbents for the removal of dye from aqueous solutions due to e cient adsorption capacity.Hydroxyethyl starch (HES, medium MW), divinyl sulfone (DVS, ≥96%) and graphite were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich chemical company. Malachite green (C.I. 42000) was purchased from Isolab chemicals.
InstrumentsA scanning electron microscope (SEM, FEI-QUANTA FEG 250) was used to observe the microstructure of hydrogels. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of hydrogels was accomplished using a JEOL TEM-1400-EDX. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were carried out with a PANalytical Empyrean device, operating parameters were λ = 1.54056 Å at 45 kV and 40 mA. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were recorded on a Perkin Elmer 100 spectrometer device with ATR in the range of 650 cm −1 -4000 cm −1 . A Perkin Elmer TGA 8000 device (TGA) was employed to analyze thermal degradation of samples, which were heated from 30°C to 900°C under nitrogen ow at heating rate of 10°C/min. The surface areas of the hydrogels were determined by multipoint BET (Quantachrome QuadraSorb SI). UV-VIS absorption spectra were recorded on a T80+UV/VIS Spectrometer, PG Ins. Ltd.
Preparations of HES hydrogelA HES solution was prepared by dispersing HES in 0.2 mol/L NaOH at a concentration of 50 mg/L, stirred at 600 rpm at room temperature for 120 min. The preparation of the HES hydrogel was completed in a single main step. For this, 2 ml HES solution had 240 µl DVS added as a cross-linker and mixed homogeneously and then transferred to a straw with 5 mm diameter with the aid of an injector. A few minutes later, gelation occurred. Later, gels were cut to 3 mm in length. After washing several times during one day in distilled water, they were dried at room tempera...