High-performance two-dimensional montmorillonite supported-poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogel for dye removal

High-performance two-dimensional montmorillonite supported-poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogel for dye removal was investigated. Montmorillonite cooperated with acrylamide and acrylic acid via polymerization, hydrogen-bond, amidation and electrostatic interactions to form the three-dimensional reticular-structured hydrogel with the free entrance for macromolecules. Adsorption tests revealed that the efficient removal (97%) for methylene blue at high concentration (200 mg/L) could be achieved via a small dose of hydrogel (0.5 g/L) within a short time (20 min). The excellent adsorption performance was profited from the electronegative surface and fully exposed reaction sites of two-dimensional montmorillonite, which could save the treatment cost and promote the removal effect compared with the conventional adsorbents. The adsorption process of methylene blue onto hydrogel could be fitted by both the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, and the adsorption isotherm corresponded to the Sips model. The mechanism analysis based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements illustrated that the reaction between carboxyl groups and methylene blue molecules as well as the cation-exchange enabled the hydrogel performing extraordinary adsorption efficiency. [Display omitted] •3D reticular-structured hydrogel formed via polymerization, hydrogen-bond, amidation and electrostatic interactions.•2DMMT supports and maintains the framework in hydrogel to make the free entrance for MB molecules.•Efficient removal for MB at high concentration is achieved via small dose of hydrogel within a short time. Two-dimensional montmorillonite with high surface area and fully-exposed active sites formed the reticular-structured hydrogel, showing excellent dye removal performance.