Reusable Soft Hydrogels for Gold Recovery from Acidic Environments

Abstract

In this study, poly((N-(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide)–co-1-allyl-2-thiourea) hydrogels were synthesized by free radical crosslinking copolymerization of N-(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide monomer with the addition of a co-monomer 1-allyl-2-thiourea, and N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide as the crosslinker. The copolymer, poly((N-(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide)–co-1-allyl-2-thiourea), was used as a specific sorbent for the recovery of gold. The characteristics of the hydrogels were examined by elemental analyzer and swelling experiments. The effect of pH on the absorption of gold, and the separation and recovery of gold ions from ore samples were investigated. Measurement of absorbed gold was determined by using F-AAS and GF-AAS.

Keywords:

• gold recovery
• Hydrogel
• non-hazardous technique
• separation and purification
• soft materials

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was funded by The Ministry of Industry and Trade (415.STZ.2009-2). N. Sahiner also gratefully acknowledges the Turkish Academy of Science for the partial support under 2008 TUBA-GEBIP program.

Notes

[Au (III) ion concentrations: 10 mg L⁻¹, 100 mL, at pH 1].