Soft Elastomers Based on the Epoxy–Amine Chemistry and Their Use for the Design of Adsorbent Amphiphilic Magnetic Nanocomposites

ARCINIEGAS, M. LORENA; GONZALEZ, JIMENA S.; CRISTINA ELENA HOPPE

Macromol

MDPI

Lugar: Basel; Año: 2022 vol. 2 p. 426 - 439

2673-6209

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based soft elastomers, bearing tertiary amine and hydroxylgroups, were synthesized in bulk from the epoxy–amine reaction between poly(ethylene glycol)diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) and a poly(etherdiamine), Jeffamine ED600. High gel fractions (0.95)and low glass transition temperatures (Tg 􀀀50 C) were attained after complete curing of thesystems in bulk. The amphiphilicity of the network allowed the swelling of the materials in bothaqueous solutions and a variety of organic solvents. Magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ coprecipitation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the elastomeric matrix. The obtainedmaterials were processed by cryogenic milling to obtain powders that were tested as potentialmagnetic adsorbents and that showed a fast and strong response to the action of a permanent magnet.These materials showed removal rates of at least 50% in 10 min when used in the adsorption of Cu+2 ions from an aqueous solution, making them interesting candidates for the design of magnetically separable metal ion adsorbents.