Multifunctional Copolymer Hydrogel Adsorbent for Remediating Perfluorinated Pollutants in Aqueous Solution
발표자
()
초록
내용
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are environmental pollutants known to cause various diseases when accumulated in human bodies. Here, we report a multifunctional hydrogel adsorbent for removal of perfluorooactanoic acid (PFOA) contaminants with reusability, reprocessibility, self-healability, and form-switchability. The hydrogel adsorbent was synthesized by copolymerization of monomers with a fluorophilic group, a quaternary ammonium group, PEG, and disulfide-containing crosslinker. Evaluation of sorption performances showed rapid, near-quantitative removal of PFOA via synergistic effects of fluorophilic and electrostatic interaction. The hydrogel was reusable multiple times by repeated adsorption/desorption of PFOA. Also, self-healing of the hydrogel was recognized by disulfide exchange at the cut surface. In addition, cleavage of a dynamic crosslink allowed reprocessing of the hydrogel and form-switching of the hydrogel adsorbent into a random copolymer micelle.