Nicotinamide-Modified poly(HEMA-GMA)-Nic Cryogels for Removal of Pesticides

Abstract

Chlordane is only one of the persistent pesticides used in some countries despite the ban.Removal of chlordane, a severe threat to all living things, was performed using nicotinamide-modified poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate), poly(HEMA-GMA)-Nic, polymeric cryogels in thisstudy. Poly(HEMA-GMA) polymeric cryogels were synthesized based on previously reported literatureprocedures and were subsequently modified by nicotinamide moieties. Removal of chlordane in alcoholicmedium has been accomplished exploiting the alcoho-phobic interaction, which was the first indication inour previous study. Structural analysis of poly(HEMA-GMA)-Nic was performed using Fourier transforminfrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and elemental analysis methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) wasused to understand the surface morphology of cryogels. Surface area and cavity volume calculations weredetermined by applying N2 adsorption method and swelling test. The interaction time and maximumadsorption capacity were identified as 5 minutes and 64.61 mg chlordane/g cryogel for 300 mg/L chlordaneconcentration and 108.818 mg chlordane/g cryogel for 800 mg/L chlordane concentration during theadsorption experiments. Cyclohexane, toluene, chloroform, dichloromethane, acetone, and acetonitrilewere used as solvents to observe the solvent effect on adsorption of chlordane onto the polymeric material.As expected, the removal of chlordane was performed with the highest adsorption performance incyclohexane with the lowest dielectric constant.