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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/NMsB/05
Magnetic hydrogels: green adsorbent for the effective removal of dibutyl and diethyl
hexyl phthalates

1
2
Umair Ahmed Qureshi 1,2,3* , Mustafa Ersoz , Amber R. Solangi
1 National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh Jamshoro,
Pakistan.
2 Institute of Advanced Research and Application Centre, University of Selcuk, Konya
Turkey.
3 Government Boys Degree College, Qasimabad, Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Correspondence: ahmedumair2011@gmail.com
Abstract

The contamination by toxic phthalates is the dilemma of present time. Our environment
especially water is frequently contaminated with these toxic phthalates. Herein, we report for
the first time the preparation of magnetic hydrogels composed of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol
and Fe3O4 particles with different compositions by varying the ratios of their constituents. The
initial screening of different magnetic hydrogels suggested that the gel with optimum polymers
and fillers ratio 1:0.5:1 (w/w/w) was the best in removing significant amount of dibutyl and
diethyl hexyl phthalates. The adsorption properties of these gels were correlated with their
swelling behavior in water at pH 7. The parameters affecting adsorption behavior including
time, pH, amount of gel, initial solute concentration and temperature were optimized. The
performance of these gels was also tested in presence of electrolytes and humic acids. The
resulting magnetic gels can be considered a promising material for producing phthalate free
water.
Keywords: Hydrogels; Phthalates; Magnetic; adsorption; Polymer.

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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