Methamidophos removal from aqueous solutions using a super adsorbent based on crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel

This study describes the absorption of methamidophos (MMP) from aqueous solution by crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel synthesized using malic acid (MA) as a crosslinker (CLPHMA). The prepared hydrogels were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the thermal properties were studied by using thermal gravimetric analysis. Also, the swelling index as a function of PVA:MA composition and pH were studied. An in silico rational study, which involved all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of PVA:MA systems in proportions 10:2, 10:4, and 10:6 was performed. The in silico studies concluded that the more suitable crosslinking degree for MMP pesticide removal is with the 20% (wt %) of crosslinker (CLPHMA-20). The experimental analysis of MMP removal with CLPHMA was performed as well. It was found that the prepared CLPHMA-20 had a great efficiency to recover around 86% of MMP from their solutions. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 135, 45964.