Poly (polyethylene glycol diacrylate‐co‐allyl glycidyl ether) cryogels: Preparation, modification with iminodiacetic acid, and application of Cu(II) removal

Abstract In this study, poly (polyethylene glycol diacrylate‐ co ‐allyl glycidyl ether) cryogels (p(PEGDA‐ co ‐AGE)) was synthesized by low‐temperature polymerization using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), and N , N ′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). The cryogel was then modified with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) by a ring‐opening reaction of AGE to attach carboxyl groups on the surface. The modified cryogel (p(PEGDA‐ co ‐AGE)‐IDA) was characterized by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X‐ray spectra, infrared spectra, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and compression test, as well as its absorption performance. It was found that the adsorption efficiency and the reusability of cryogels for Cu(II) was related to pH, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 76.49 mg g −1 (pH = 6). In addition, the kinetics of Cu(II) adsorption on cryogels was investigated to clarify the adsorption mechanism.