Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels
Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focu...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Anita Ioana Visan Irina Negut |
| author_facet | Anita Ioana Visan Irina Negut |
| author_sort | Anita Ioana Visan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focusing on their environmental applications. Various synthesis techniques, including radical polymerization, grafting, and copolymerization, enable the development of hydrogels with tailored properties such as enhanced adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. The incorporation of nanoparticles and bio-based polymers further improves their structural integrity and pollutant removal efficiency. Key mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchange, and photodegradation are discussed, emphasizing their roles in removing heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Additionally, this review presents the potential of hydrogels for oil–water separation, pathogen control, and future sustainability through integration into circular economy frameworks. The adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness of these hydrogels make them promising candidates for large-scale environmental remediation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9740b2442ee04cd18280e784fbf5ab31 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj-art-9740b2442ee04cd18280e784fbf5ab312025-01-24T13:34:01ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-01-011117210.3390/gels11010072Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive HydrogelsAnita Ioana Visan0Irina Negut1National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, RomaniaNational Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, RomaniaStimulus-responsive hydrogels have emerged as versatile materials for environmental and wastewater treatment applications due to their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This review highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of such hydrogels, focusing on their environmental applications. Various synthesis techniques, including radical polymerization, grafting, and copolymerization, enable the development of hydrogels with tailored properties such as enhanced adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. The incorporation of nanoparticles and bio-based polymers further improves their structural integrity and pollutant removal efficiency. Key mechanisms such as adsorption, ion exchange, and photodegradation are discussed, emphasizing their roles in removing heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Additionally, this review presents the potential of hydrogels for oil–water separation, pathogen control, and future sustainability through integration into circular economy frameworks. The adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness of these hydrogels make them promising candidates for large-scale environmental remediation.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/72stimulus-responsive hydrogelswastewater treatmentadsorption and photodegradationhydrogel functionalizationsustainable water management |
| spellingShingle | Anita Ioana Visan Irina Negut Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels Gels stimulus-responsive hydrogels wastewater treatment adsorption and photodegradation hydrogel functionalization sustainable water management |
| title | Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels |
| title_full | Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels |
| title_fullStr | Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels |
| title_short | Environmental and Wastewater Treatment Applications of Stimulus-Responsive Hydrogels |
| title_sort | environmental and wastewater treatment applications of stimulus responsive hydrogels |
| topic | stimulus-responsive hydrogels wastewater treatment adsorption and photodegradation hydrogel functionalization sustainable water management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/72 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anitaioanavisan environmentalandwastewatertreatmentapplicationsofstimulusresponsivehydrogels AT irinanegut environmentalandwastewatertreatmentapplicationsofstimulusresponsivehydrogels |