Open Access

ARTICLE

Preparation of PVA/SA Interpenetrating Double Network Municipal Sludge Hydrogel and the Study of pH Response

Yu Huang^1,3, Tingting Dong¹, Xing Zhang¹, Shasha Xu², Xiaoyu Song², Zhaojun Wang², Mingyan Qin¹, Liwei Deng¹, Yalin Li^1,2,*

1 School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
2 School of College of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Henan University of Engineering, Zhengzhou, 451191, China
3 National Engineering Research Center of Advanced Technology and Equipment for Water Environment Pollution Monitoring, Wuhan, 430068, China

* Corresponding Author: Yalin Li. Email:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2025, 42(1), 151-172. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.060699

Received 07 November 2024; Accepted 21 January 2025; Issue published 27 March 2025

Abstract

The rapid urbanization underscores the urgency of efficient treatment and resource utilization of municipal sludge for environmental conservation. To address this, a novel pH-responsive dual network polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate sludge hydrogel was devised by integrating municipal sludge with acrylic acid monomers, ammonium persulphate initiator, N, N’-methylene bisacrylamide crosslinking agent, reinforced by polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate through free radical cross-linking polymerization. The hydrogel’s optimal formulation was identified by adjusting the monomer, crosslinking agent, and initiator dosage while assessing its swelling behavior across various pH environments. Results revealed excellent swelling capacity, notably exhibiting a remarkable swelling capacity of up to 7265.64% at pH 11.0, suggesting the hydrogel’s potential in environmental remediation and innovative material design. This research presents a pioneering approach to harnessing municipal sludge and developing intelligent hydrogels, fostering sustainable resource management.

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