Pollution Research Paper

Vol 39, Nov Suppl. Issue, 2020; Page No.(207-217)

DYE ADSORPTION, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF POLY (NTB-CO-AM/AMPSNA) ZNO NANOCOMPOSITE HYDROGELS

K. BHARATHI AND P. PAZHANISAMY

Abstract

This article describes the synthesis of ZnO nanocomposite hydrogels based on N-tert- butyl acrylamide, acrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonate (AMPSNa) monomers via free-radical polymerization. A required amount of monomers with N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) crosslinker and Ammonium persulphate initiator were dissolved in methanol/water (3:1) and ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in the medium , then the polymerization was carried out at 60 oC. The synthesized ZnO nanocomposite hydrogels were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, XRD and TGA analysis. The AMPSNa content varied from 0.1 to 0.7g to study the influence of AMPSNa on swelling. The results indicate the equilibrium swelling increased with increasing amount of ionic monomer. SEM image reveals the presence of ZnO nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. XRD analysis indicates that the hydrogels are amorphous in nature. TGA of hydrogels showed double stage decomposition and are stable up to 300 oC. Methylene blue dye adsorption capacity of hydrogels exhibits 82.05 % at lower content of AMPSNa. The adsorption isotherm study showed Freundlich isotherm and the hydrogels favour multilayer adsorption. DPPH radical scavenging activity exhibited antioxidant property of hydrogels. The hydrogels are active against some selected microorganisms.