title: Ion-recognizable hydrogels for efficient removal of cesium ions from aqueous environment.
abstract: At present, selective and efficient removal of cesium ions (Cs+) from nuclear waste is of significant importance but still challenging. In this study, an easy-to-get and low-cost hydrogel adsorbent has been developed for effective adsorption and removal of Cs+from aqueous environment. The novel Cs+-recognizable poly(acrylic acid-co-benzo-18-crown-6-acrylamide) (poly(AAc-co-B18C6Am)) hydrogel is specifically designed with a synergistic effect, in which the AAc units are designed to attract Cs+via electrostatic attraction and the B18C6Am units are designed to capture the attracted Cs+by forming stable 2:1 "sandwich" complexes. The poly(AAc-co-B18C6Am) hydrogels are simply synthesized by thermally initiated free-radical copolymerization and display excellent Cs+adsorption from commonly coexisting metal ions. Important parameters affecting the adsorption are investigated comprehensively, and the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms are also discussed systematically. The poly(AAc-co-B18C6Am) hydrogels exhibit rapid Cs+adsorption within 30min and the adsorption process is governed by the pseudo-second order model. Adsorption isotherm results demonstrate that the equilibrium data are well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that the Cs+adsorption is probably a monolayer adsorption process. Such Cs+-recognizable hydrogel materials based on the host-guest complexation are promising as efficient and feasible candidates for adsorption and removal of radioactive Cs+from nuclear contaminants.
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China; College of Chemistry and Environment Protection Engineering, Southwest University for Nationalities, No. 16, Southern 4 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, PR China.
authors: Hai-Rong
authors: HR
authors: Yu
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China.
authors: Jia-Qi
authors: JQ
authors: Hu
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China. Electronic address: liuz@scu.edu.cn.
authors: Zhuang
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China.
authors: Xiao-Jie
authors: XJ
authors: Ju
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Xie
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, Southern 1 Section, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610065, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China; Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing, Jiangsu 211816, PR China. Electronic address: chuly@scu.edu.cn.
authors: Liang-Yin
authors: LY
authors: Chu
keywords: Adsorption; Cesium ions; Cross-linked hydrogels; Crown ethers; Host-guest systems