Removal of Pesticides from Aqueous Solutions Using Recycled Waste Hydrogel as a Low-Cost Adsorbent

Abstract

The free radical method was used for the synthesis of hydrogel, relying on environmentally friendly and available monomers such as acrylic acid (AC) and acrylamide (AM) in the presence of (CdS). The application of (AC-co-AM)/CdS hydrogel nanocomposite for the removal of Cypermethrin Pesticides (CYP) shows wide potential; as highly efficient absorbents for treating water contaminated with CYP under ideal conditions. The most important factors affecting the adsorption process, such as equilibrium time and hydrogel dosage, were studied. Optimal conditions for insecticide removal were found to be pH 9.0, equilibration time = 150 min, hydrogel weight = 0.1 g, concentration = 10 mg L −1. Temperature had a strong effect on the biosorption process. Moreover, the hydrogel was characterized by FESEM, TEM and XRD. Increased weight of hydrogel nanocomposite results in increase removal percentages; 0.1 g/L of weight of hydrogel resulted in 81.333 % absorption. The pH solution increased, with removal percentage of pH =2 (41.55 %) to pH=11 (89.78%) increased. (AC-co-AM)/CdS hydrogel nanocomposite surface has a very high efficiency in regeneration and use, so that it is characterized by its stability and high stability compared to (AC-co-AM) hydrogel, so that it is characterized Stability of 5 cycles (81.67% to 70 .22%). Overall, the present study suggests that this environmentally friendly, effective and low-cost hydrogel may be useful for removing insecticide from aqueous solution.