Radiation Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Acrylamide-Co-Acrylic Acid) Hydrogels Used for the Absorption of Heavy Metals

The purpose of the paper is to present the synthesis and characterization of hydrogels prepared by free-radical copolymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid in aqueous solutions using potassium persulfate as initiator and trimethylolpropane-trimethacrylate as crosslinker, via radiation technique. The influence of the absorbed dose on the swelling properties, diffusion coefficient and network parameters of hydrogels was investigated. The swelling of hydrogels loaded with metal cations (copper, chromium) was investigated.