POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, cilt.57, sa.4, ss.637-643, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
BACKGROUND: In this study, poly[ (N-vinylimidazole)-co-(maleic acid)] (poly(VIm/MA)) hydrogels were prepared by gamma-irradiation of ternary mixtures of N-vinyhmidazole-maleic acid-water using a Co-60 gamma-source. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses of these hydrogels as a function of protonation showed that the results are consistent with the existence of an H-bridged complex when the imidazole rings are partially protonated. Finally, the efficiency and binding trends of Cu2+, Co2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions with both protonated and unprotonated poly(VIm/MA) hydrogels were determined.