Polymer Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Water Purification

Chitin‐halloysite nanoclay hydrogel composite adsorbent to aqueous heavy metal ions

“…Furthermore, high aspect ratio property of tubular nanostructure may allow HNC disperse easily into the CT polymeric matrix to obtain the compact structure of the hydrogel films. Denser hydrogel structure diminished the accessibility of water molecules to hydrophilic parts of polymer molecules, therefore less water could penetrate into the hydrogel structure . Moreover, the WCA was carried out to be an indicator for the hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties of the composites.…”

“…In the uses of an inorganic reinforcing agents, clays improved the mechanical strength of hydrogel nanocomposites . Therefore, many predominant properties including low interfacial tension and a variety of functional groups provided in the hydrogel composites expressed high adsorption capacities . The present work focuses on halloysite nano‐filler for the preparation of hydrogel composite of CT.…”

“…14-16 Therefore, many predominant properties including low interfacial tension and a variety of functional groups provided in the hydrogel composites expressed high adsorption capacities. 17 The present work focuses on halloysite nano-filler for the preparation of hydrogel composite of CT. Here, halloysite nanoclay (HNC) occurs as a green compound in nature as a hydrated mineral that has an ideal formula of Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 .nH 2 O, which is similar to kaolinite except for the presence of an additional water monolayer between the adjacent layers.…”

Polymer Hydrogels as Smart Draw Agents in Forward Osmosis Processes

“…The incorporation of the inorganic fillers provides superior properties to the polymer hydrogels such as higher water absorbency, absorption rate, gel strength and responsiveness to some stimuli (e.g., mechanical, optical, thermal, magnetic, electric stimulation, etc.). These new and unique properties broaden their range of applications in drug delivery systems, electronics, sensors, actuators and microfluidics sectors, separation devices, water absorbents, catalysts, and optics Schexnailder and Schmidt 2009). Li et al (2011b) reported the development of composite hydrogels with the inclusion of black solar-absorbing carbon particles as draw agents in FO desalination.…”

“…The inclusion of inorganic particles such as clay (Haraguchi et al 2005;Can et al 2007;Haraguchi et al 2007), zeolites (Ziesmer and Stock 2008) and metals (Ménager et al 2004;Wang et al 2004) into polymer networks could be achieved via crosslinking to the hydrogel, adsorbing or attaching to the polymer chains, or simply entrapping them within the hydrogel networks (Schexnailder and Schmidt 2009). The incorporation of the inorganic fillers provides superior properties to the polymer hydrogels such as higher water absorbency, absorption rate, gel strength and responsiveness to some stimuli (e.g., mechanical, optical, thermal, magnetic, electric stimulation, etc.).…”