Hydrogel Balls Developed for Use in the Detection of Heavy Metals in Wastewater

The study highlights the development of hydrogel beads for the detection of Nickel (Ni(II)) and Chromium (Cr(VI)) in industrial wastewater, providing an innovative solution to heavy metal pollution in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner. The beads change color when exposed to metals, making detection fast and simple. This technique makes a significant contribution to occupational health and safety by providing real-time detection of harmful heavy metals, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to workers. Additionally, the hydrogel beads aim to protect both worker health and surrounding ecosystems by helping industries meet environmental standards. Key findings include detection limits of 2.5 mg/mL for nickel and 1 mg/mL for chromium, and color changes stabilizing within 10 min. The hydrogels exhibited excellent swelling behavior with equilibrium swelling ratios of 72.65% for nickel and 64.18% for chromium, providing high efficiency in moisture absorption and retention. These features, combined with their ability to function without pretreatment or pH adjustment, offer an accessible and effective solution for managing metal pollution in industrial environments. Overall, the hydrogel beads demonstrated a success rate of 90.56% for nickel and 91.60% for chromium in detecting and measuring metal ions, providing an accessible and effective method for managing metal contamination in industrial environments while protecting both worker health and environmental integrity.