Sequential sorption of crystal violet and emulsified oil onto poly(lauryl methacrylate-acrylamide) hybrid hydrogel

Abstract The operational industries continuously contribute significant volumes of synthetic dyes along with other pollutants into the aquatic environment. The global issue of dye induced water contamination was addressed through facile synthesis of hydrophobically associated poly(lauryl methacrylate-acrylamide) [p(LMA-AAm)] hydrogel by free radical polymerization method. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) micrographs depicted suitability of the hybrid sorbent for crystal violet (CV) uptake owing to porous, rough and spongy texture. The fabricated sorbent was utilized for CV sorption by performing different tests like contact time, pH, and initial concentration effect on the CV sorption. The obtained kinetic and isothermal data fitted well into the non-linear versions of pseudo second order and Langmuir models respectively. The thermodynamics tests signified the sorption process of spontaneous and endothermic nature. After sorption, the resultant [CV/p(LMA-AAm)] waste was applied for toluene (oil probe) separation from water which performed excellent separation in the range of 83–74 % during the first three tests. Thus, the desirable sorption properties, facile fabrication and promising oil separation power may recommend the composite sorbent for applications in the relevant fields like water treatment, separation and sorption.