Thermoresponsive PNIPAM-b-PAA block copolymers as “smart” adsorbents of Cu(II) for water restore treatments

Abstract Copper(II) as a heavy metal ion is posing risk to aquatic ecosystems including algae, fish, mollusks, and bacteria, negatively affecting human life because of bioaccumulation and non-biodegradability. In this study, two thermoresponsive PNIPAM-b-PAA block copolymers with different characteristics in terms of molecular weight and PAA composition were investigated to remove copper ions from simulated water. We chose to utilize those block copolymers in CuSO4 adsorption experiments in order to comprehend how the combination of the thermoresponsive PNIPAM block and the binding ability that PAA block offers, affects the adsorption of Cu2+ and SO42− and provides eventually their removal from aqueous solutions. The adsorption protocol includes simple mixing of the copolymer and CuSO4 aqueous solutions under stirring. Dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, pH, UV–vis, turbidity and ICP-OES measurements were conducted to verify the PNIPAM-b-PAA ability as smart adsorbents. The results showed that the PNIPAM-b-PAA_50−50 sample offers the possibility of Cu2+ and SO42- adsorption of greater percentage especially when temperature increases to 60 °C. Therefore, PNIPAM-b-PAA block copolymers comprise efficient and smart Cu2+ and SO42- adsorbents.