Enhanced Stability and Catalytic Activity of a Nanocatalyst with Reusable Ionic Liquid Hydrogels for the Reduction of Organic Pollutants

Nitroaromatic compounds have a wide range of applications. However, they pose a significant threat to both the environment and human health. Ionic liquid hydrogels (ILs-gels) have emerged as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for various applications. However, conventional ILs-gels are known to possess mechanical flaws or defects. The procedure utilized a facile synthesis route that involved the polymerization of acrylamide (AM) and ionic liquids (ILs) to create a novel candidate for nanoparticle absorption. This study resolved this issue by creating toughened hydrophobic combined hydrogels synthesized through the addition of SiO₂@poly(butyl acrylate) core-shell inorganic-organic hybrid latex particles (SiO₂@PBA) to the AM-ILs mixture. The SiO₂@PBA particles were chosen to provide the hydrogels with exceptional stretchability (up to 4050% strain) and high mechanical properties (tensile strength of 126 kPa) by acting as both a nanotoughener and a cross-linking point for hydrophobic linkage. Additionally, the P(AM/ILs)-SiO₂@PBA hydrogel served as a template for the in situ and stable formation of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. By incorporation of these Pd nanoparticles as catalysts into P(AM/ILs)-SiO₂@PBA hydrogel carriers, the resulting P(AM/ILs)-SiO₂@PBA/Pd hydrogels exhibited the ability to catalyze the degradation of p-nitrophenol. Remarkably, even after 15 applications, the efficiency of the degradation process remained consistently above 90%. Thus, the innovative SiO₂@PBA toughened ILs-hydrogel design strategy can be utilized to develop robust and stretchable hydrogel materials for catalytic use in the sewage disposal industry.