Pectin-
g
-(sodium acrylate-
co
-3-(
N
-isopropylacrylamido) sodium propanoate-
co
-
N
-isopropylacrylamide) interpenetrating polymer
networks (PANIPNs) were synthesized through systematic multistage
optimization of equilibrium swelling ratio by response surface methodology
for individual and/or synergistic removal(s) of cationic safranine
(SF), anionic methyl orange, and M(II/III), such as Hg(II), Cd(II),
and Cr(III). The relative effects of copolymer compositions on ligand-selective
adsorption, strong/weak H-bonds, thermal stabilities, crystallinity,
surface properties, swelling abilities, cross-link densities, network
parameters, hydrophilic–hydrophobic characteristics, and adsorption
capacities (ACs) were measured through extensive microstructural analyses
of adsorbed
and/or unadsorbed PANIPN41 and PANIPN21 bearing sodium acrylate and
N
-isopropylacrylamide (SA/NIPAm) in 4:1 and 2:1 ratios,
respectively, using Fourier transform infrared,
1
H and
13
C NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric
analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning
electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, along
with measuring lower critical solution temperature, % gel content
(% GC), % −COOH, and pH
PZC
. Extensive UV–vis
measurements were carried out at varying copolymer compositions, initial
pH (pH
i
), and dyes, interpreted considering
monomer–dimer and azonium–ammonium equilibrium of dye,
dye–dye complexation, ligand-selective PANIPNs–dye adduct
formation, π–π stacking interactions, and orientation
effect of dyes. Thermodynamically feasible chemisorption processes
showed the maximum ACs of 127.61, 96.78, 103.36, and 99.41 mg g
–1
for SF, Hg(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III), respectively,
under optimum conditions.