Functional poly (acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) super hydrogels integrated with silver-decorated recycled nano tungsten oxide: a robust, leach-free for advanced wastewater decontamination.

Authors

H M Zidan, Nazir Mustapha, Sally A Eladly, Dina Ezzat

Published in

BMC chemistry. Volume 20. Issue 1. Jul 04, 2026. Epub Jul 04, 2026.

Abstract

This study reports the development of an efficient and structurally robust functional hybrid hydrogel composed of a Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) matrix, reinforced with silver-decorated recycled nano-tungsten oxide (Ag-WO₃) composites. To ensure structural longevity and eliminate secondary pollution risks, the recycled nanoparticles derived from industrial scrap were modified via an eco-friendly photo-reduction method and covalently tethered to the polymer backbone using a vinyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent. FT-IR analysis confirmed successful interfacial chemical grafting, which acted as a nano-skeleton reinforcement. Consequently, a dramatic increase in mechanical robustness was achieved, with surface hardness rising from 43 Shore A for the pristine hydrogel to 80 Shore A for the dense hybrid network. Crucially, the hybrid system exhibited exceptional chemo-structural stability across a broad pH spectrum (3-11), maintaining a gel content exceeding 90% with nearly zero detectable leaching or turbidity. Functionally, the Ag-WO₃ integrated hydrogel serves as a potent dual-action platform for wastewater purification, achieving 86.5% photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue dye under UV irradiation within 60 min, alongside an outstanding 99.98% antibacterial eradication rate against Escherichia coli. By transforming industrial metallurgical scrap into a high-value environmental catalyst, this research offers a sustainable, non-leaching, and scalable platform for advanced wastewater decontamination, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production).

PMID:
42401966
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Jul 2026.

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