Adsorption of Anionic Dyes Using a Poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) Block Copolymer Organogel

An organogel was prepared by chemically cross-linking a poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer using dibromododecane in dimethylformamide. Analysis of the prominent structure peak in small-angle X-ray scattering along with the results of light scattering and rheological profile suggests the bridging of the spherical micelles to one another to form an interconnected network after gelation. The use of this organogel as a selective adsorbent for removing anionic dyes from individual aqueous dye solutions and in a mixture of cationic and anionic dye solutions has shown more than 90% removal of the anionic dyes within 2 h. The regeneration and reusability studies showed that even after 20 cycles, the adsorption property of the organogel holds extremely well still beyond 90%. These results are indicative of the potential use of poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) organogel for the anionic ions removal in wastewater treatment.