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Date Available
10-1-2028
Year of Publication
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Engineering
Department/School/Program
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Faculty
J. Zach Hilt
Abstract
Hydrogels and their nanocomposites have emerged as promising materials for environmental remediation due to their tunable structure, high water affinity, and ability to incorporate functional nanomaterials. When integrated with magnetic nanoparticles, these systems gain additional advantages such as remote activation, enhanced reactivity, and facile separation. Leveraging these features, functionalized hydrogels and magnetic nanocomposites incorporating iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were developed for advanced water treatments. These materials were engineered with tunable surface chemistry to enhance contaminant affinity, catalytic activity, and reusability. The magnetic nanocomposites exhibited localized heating capability under alternating magnetic field (AMF) exposure, enabling the generation of reactive sulfate radicals for rapid degradation of organic pollutants. Acrylamide-based systems achieved nearly complete removal of rhodamine B within 20 minutes through magnetically induced radical activation. Further studies revealed that nanoparticle aggregation and surface passivation limited catalytic efficiency at higher concentrations and after repeated use. Fluorinated hydrogel nanocomposites demonstrated up to 90% removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through fluorous interaction, with partial regeneration of short-chain PFAS achieved under AMF. These findings underscore the potential of hydrogel and their magnetic nanocomposites as sustainable, magnetically responsive materials for efficient contaminant removal and enhanced filtration performance in environmental and industrial applications.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.448
Archival?
Archival
Recommended Citation
Paul, Pranto, "Development of Hydrogels and Their Magnetic Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation" (2026). University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations. 882.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/882
