Fabrication of Efficient and Easily Recyclable Silver Nanoparticles‐Anionic Polymer Hydrogel Composite Catalyst for Rapid Degradation of Water Pollutants

ABSTRACT In this study, a porous three‐dimensional polymeric network of poly(3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate) [p(SPMA)] is prepared and embedded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to design a nanocomposite catalyst. The analytical techniques including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (SEM–EDX), rheology, and UV–visible spectroscopy are used to investigate the composition and morphology of the prepared nanocomposite catalyst. The fabricated p(SPMA) hydrogel exhibits hydrophilic character with % swelling of 1974 in aqueous medium. The porosity of the nanocomposite catalyst is endorsed by SEM while the skeleton of p(SPMA) and embedding of AgNPs is affirmed by EDX. The catalytic performance of the synthesized nanocomposite catalyst is analyzed in the chemical reduction of two different dyes; methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and two different nitroaromatic compounds; 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), and 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA). The apparent rate constant (kapp) of the catalytic is found to be 0.365 × 10−2, 1.059 × 10−2, 0.159 × 10−2, and 0.581 × 10−2 s−1, for 4‐NA, 4‐NP, MO, and MB, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposite catalyst is recycled 10 times in succession by a simple, quick, and effortless process of filtration via a plankton cloth filter, and it is found that the catalyst retains 70% activity in the tenth cycle.