Visan Anita Ioana, Negut Irina
National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, Romania.
Gels. 2025 Jan 16;11(1):72. doi: 10.3390/gels11010072.
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.
刺激响应性水凝胶因其能够适应不断变化的环境条件，已成为用于环境和废水处理应用的多功能材料。本综述重点介绍了此类水凝胶在设计、合成和功能化方面的最新进展，着重关注其环境应用。包括自由基聚合、接枝和共聚在内的各种合成技术，能够开发出具有定制特性（如增强的吸附容量、选择性和可重复使用性）的水凝胶。纳米颗粒和生物基聚合物的加入进一步改善了它们的结构完整性和污染物去除效率。文中讨论了吸附、离子交换和光降解等关键机制，强调了它们在去除废水中重金属、染料和有机污染物方面的作用。此外，本综述还介绍了水凝胶在油水分离、病原体控制以及通过融入循环经济框架实现未来可持续性方面的潜力。这些水凝胶的适应性、成本效益和生态友好性使其成为大规模环境修复的有前途的候选材料。
