Synthesis of interpenetrating network hydrogel from (gum copal alcohols-collagen)-co-poly(acrylamide) and acrylic acid: Isotherms and kinetics study for removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution

A novel interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) [(GcA-coll)-cl-poly (AAm-ip-AA)] hydrogel has been syn-thesized by free radical polymerization of (gum copal alcohols-collagen) backbone using potassium persulphate (KPS) as initiator, N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker, acrylamide (AAm) as primary monomer and acrylic acid (AA) as secondary monomer. Isotherms and kinetics of dye adsorption by the IPN were also studied. The optimum conditions for the removal of methylene blue dye with the maximum adsorption capacity of 1.70 mg/g from aqueous solution are pH similar to 7, initial dye concentration = 12 ppm, adsorbent dose = 300 mg. The adsorbent also exhibited excellent regeneration efficiency for the three successive adsorption-desorption cycles. The Gum Copal and Collagen based IPN hydrogel was found to be a cost effective and renewable potential candidate with excellent regeneration efficiency to be used as an adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue from the aqueous solutions.