Role of surface functional groups of hydrogels in metal adsorption: From performance to mechanism

Mohammad A H Badsha; Musharib Khan; Baile Wu; Ashutosh Kumar; Irene M C Lo

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124463

Role of surface functional groups of hydrogels in metal adsorption: From performance to mechanism

J Hazard Mater. 2021 Apr 15:408:124463. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124463. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Authors

Mohammad A H Badsha¹, Musharib Khan¹, Baile Wu¹, Ashutosh Kumar¹, Irene M C Lo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: cemclo@ust.hk.

PMID: 33189468
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124463

Abstract

Hydrogels have been studied quite intensively in recent decades regarding whether their metal adsorption abilities may be modified or even enhanced via functionalization (i.e., functionalizing the surfaces of hydrogels with specific functional groups). Studies have found that functionalizing hydrogels can in fact give them higher adsorptive power. This enhanced adsorptive performance is articulated in this paper through critically reviewing more than 120 research articles in such terms as the various techniques of synthesizing functionalized hydrogels, the roles that specific functional groups play on adsorption performance, selectivity, reusability, as well as on adsorption mechanism. Moreover, this critical review offers insight into future designs of functionalized hydrogels with specific metal adsorption capabilities.

Keywords: Adsorption mechanism; Hydrogel; Metal removal; Surface functional groups.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't