Abstract
The aim of this study was to prepare poly-N-isopropylmethacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-acrylamide [p-(NIPMAM-co-AA-AAm)] via precipitation polymerization in an aqueous medium. Rhodium nanoparticles were formed in the microgel network by an in-situ reduction technique with the addition of sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. Pure p-(NIPMAM-co-AA-AAm) and hybrid microgels [Rh-(p-NIPMAM-co-AA-AAm)] microgels were examined by using UV-Visible, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), DLS (Dynamic Light Scattering) and XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) techniques. The catalytic activities of the hybrid microgel [Rh-(p-NIPMAM-co-AA-AAm)] for the degradation of azo dyes such as alizarin yellow (AY), congo red (CR), and methyl orange (MO) were compared and the mechanism of the catalytic action by this system was examined. Various parameters including the catalyst amount and dye concentration influenced the catalytic decomposition of azo dyes. In order to maximize the reaction conditions for the dye's quick and efficient decomposition, the reaction process was monitored by spectroscopic analysis. The rate constants for reductive degradation of azo dyes were measured under various conditions. When k(app) values were compared for dyes, it was found that [Rh-(p-NIPMAM-co-AA-AAm)] hybrid microgels showed superior activity for the degradation of MO dyes compared to the reductive degradation of CR and AY.