Abstract

Removal of dyes through adsorption from wastewater has investigated substantial interest nowadays. Acrylamide (AAm)/2-
acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS)/Cloisite 30B clay (AMPS/Clay) hydrogel for the adsorbtion of methylene
blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions was investigated, and the adsorption efficiency was improved by incorporating graphene
oxide (AAm-AMPS/GO) in the adsorbent structure. These hydrogels were prepared by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization
of AAm and AMPS at 60°C in the presence of N,N’-methylene bis(acrylamide) as the crosslinker. The resulting hydrogels were
characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The resulting
hybrid networks were used as an adsorbent to study the swelling ratio, and the effectiveness in the removal of MB using the
adsorption kinetics, pseudo-first and second orders, Langmuir, and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption
equilibrium capacity reached 11.66 mg/g (94.72%) using the AAm-AMPS, 11.77 mg/g (95.13%) using the AAm-AMPS/Clay,
and 11.38 mg/g (93.3%) using the AAm-AMPS/GO at 80 min. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as contact
time, solution pH, and adsorbent dosage and initial concentration of dye solution, were investigated.
Key words: Acrylamide-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, Adsorption isotherm, Adsorption