Ozgur Ozay

Removal of toxic metal ions with magnetic hydrogels.

Hydrogels, based on 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propansulfonic acid (AMPS) were synthesized via photopolymerization technique and used for the preparation of magnetic responsive composite hydrogels. These composite hydrogels with magnetic properties were further utilized for the removal of toxic metal ions such as Cd(II), Co(II), Fe(II), Pb(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Cr(III) from aqueous environments. It was revealed that hydrogel networks with magnetic properties can effectively be utilized in the removal of pollutants. The results verified that magnetic iron particle containing p(AMPS) hydrogel networks provide advantageous over conventional techniques. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were applied for toxic metal removal and both isotherms were fit reasonably well for the metal ion absorptions.

P(4-VP) based nanoparticles and composites with dual action as antimicrobial materials

Polymeric 4-VP (p(4-VP)) particles were synthesized in an oil-in-water microemulsion system using various amounts of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker. The prepared p(4-VP) particles were chemically modified to obtain positively charged particles as polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, these p(4-VP) particles were used for in situ Ag and Cu metal nanoparticle syntheses to provide dual action with an additional advantage as bactericidal particles. The synthesized p(4-VP) particles with positive charges and metal constituents were tested for potential antibacterial action against various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, Escherichia coli ATCC8739. It was found that p(4-VP) particles, especially the positively charged forms had potential as antibacterial materials. The synthesized particle dimensions were characterized with TEM, and DLS measurements. Chemical modification of the particles was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements, and the metal nanoparticle contents were determined with thermogravimetric (TGA) studies.

Utilization of Smart Hydrogel–Metal Composites as Catalysis Media

Various metal nanoparticles such as, Cu, Co, Ni, and Fe were prepared inside poly(1-vinyl imidazole) p(VI) hydrogel by the absorption of the corresponding metal ions from aqueous solutions and the reduction with suitable reducing agents such as NaBH(4) and/or NaOH. TGA and ICP-AES were used to determine the metal particle content of p(VI)-M (M: Cu, Co, and Ni) composites. The prepared hydrogel-metal nanoparticle composites were proven to be resourceful as reaction container for the catalysis of various organic reactions. It was illustrated that p(VI)-M hydrogel-metal composites can be successfully used in the hydrolysis of NaBH(4) for the generation hydrogen form NaBH(4) and NH(3)BH(3). Additionally, p(VI)-M composites were also illustrated in the catalysis of different organic reactions; e.g., these hydrogel-M are very effective in the reduction nitro aromatic compounds such 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to their corresponding amine forms in the presence of aqueous NaBH(4). Various parameters in the catalysis of hydrogen production and 4-NP reduction were determined.

Novel hydrogel particles and their IPN films as drug delivery systems with antibacterial properties

Poly(acrylonitrile) (p(AN))-based materials such poly(acrylonitrile-co-(3-acrylamidopropyl)-trimethylammonium chloride (p(AN-co-APTMACl)), poly(acrylonitrile-co-4-viniyl pyridine) (p(AN-co-4-VP)) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(AN-co-NIPAM)) core-shell nanoparticles were prepared. The core materials, AN, in p(AN-co-4-VP) nanoparticles, were amidoximated and the shell materials, 4-VP, were quaternized to generate p(AN-co-4-VP)(+) and p(AN-co-4-VP)(++), single and double positively charged core-shell nanoparticles, respectively. Furthermore, interpenetrating microgels-hydrogel (IPN) polymeric networks were prepared by mixing double quaternized p(AN-co-4-VP)(++) core-shell particles with acrylamide (AAm) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) before polymerization. A model drug, fluorescein sodium salt (FSS) was used in absorption/release studies from these IPNs. Moreover, the prepared and chemically modified particles were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseduomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, and Escherichia coli ATCC8739, and found that some of these particles had antibacterial properties against tested bacteria.

Hydrogels as a Potential Chromatographic System: Absorption, Speciation, and Separation of Chromium Species from Aqueous Media

Hydrogels with highly charged forms and amphiphilic character, based on an anionic monomer 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propansulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPSNa) and a cationic monomer 3-acrylamidopropyltrimethylammoniumchloride (APTMACl), were synthesized via a photo-polymerization technique and investigated for potential use in the separation of chromium species with different oxidation states. They were used for three main purposes. First, a single chromium species was successfully removed from an aqueous medium in the presence of other forms using the appropriate design and synthesis of the hydrogels. Secondly, the copolymerized p(AMPSNa-co-APTMACl) hydrogels were used to remove two chromium species simultaneously from an aqueous medium. Lastly, in addition to speciation of the chromium species, their separation and removal by an externally applied magnetic field using magnetically responsive hydrogels was demonstrated.

Aromatic organic contaminant removal from an aqueous environment by p(4-VP)-based materials

p(4-vinylpyridine) (p(4-VP)) hydrogels were prepared in bulk (macro, 5 × 6 mm) and in nanosizes (370 nm) dimensions. The prepared hydrogels were used to remove organic aromatic contaminates such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), phenol (Ph) and nitrobenzene (NB) from an aqueous environment. Important parameters affecting the absorption phenomena, such as the initial concentration of the organic species and the absorbent, absorption rate, absorption capacity, pH and the temperature of the medium, were evaluated for both hydrogel sizes. The absorption capacity of bulk and microgels were found to be 4-NP>2-NP>Ph>NB. Furthermore, p(4-VP) microgels were embedded in poly(acrylamide) (p(AAm)) bulk hydrogel as a microgel-hydrogel interpenetrating polymer network and proved to be very practical in overcoming the difficulty of using the microgels in real applications. Moreover, it was demonstrated that separately prepared magnetic ferrite particles inserted inside p(4-VP) microgels during synthesis allowed for trouble-free removal of p(4-VP)-magnetic composite microgels from the aqueous environment by an externally applied magnetic field upon completion of their task.

Synthesis and Swelling Behavior of Novel pH Responsive Hydrogels for Environmental Applications

In this study, N-Allylsuccinamic acid was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR analyses. Then, copolymeric hydrogels were synthesized by using N-Allylsuccinamic acid and acrylamide as monomers by using free radical polymerization. Once FT-IR, SEM and swelling characterizations of the obtained p(Acrylamide-co-N-Allylsuccinamic acid) hydrogels had been carried out, usability of the hydrogels in environmental applications as an effective absorbent material was shown. For this purpose, the absorption values were determined as 0.545 mmol g−1, 0.179 mmol g−1 and 0.051 mmol g−1 for the used hydrogels in the absorption of Cr3+, 4-Nitrophenol and basic fuchsin from aqueous media respectively.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Naked-Eye Sensor Application of Fully Substituted Urea-Based Cyclotriphosphazene Compound

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT Abstract A novel sensor with a hexacenter containing nitrophenylurea groups on a cyclotriphosphazene core was synthesized by “click” reaction of N-propargyl-substituted urea with a hexaazide-substituted cyclotriphosphazene compound. It was characterized by spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy. This compound was used for naked-eye and spectrophotometric detection of F− anions. The optical sensor properties of compound were investigated using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy.

Synthesis, structural characterization, and anion interactions of new triazole-linked urea derivative fully substituted cyclotriphosphazene compounds

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Three novel fully substituted urea derivative cyclotriphosphazene compounds 5–7 were synthesized by alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of propargyl substituted ureas 2–4 with hexaazide substituted cyclotriphosphazene 1 in the presence of Cu(I) catalyst. All compounds were characterized with spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, 1H, 13C, and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. Also, the usefulness of compounds 5–7 as anion carriers was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. For this purpose, 1H NMR spectra of compounds 5–7 were recorded in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in DMSO-d6. It was determined, that the urea protons in the compounds interact with fluoride.