Phenomenon of Remote Interaction and Sorption Ability of Rare Cross-linked Hydrogels of Polymethacrylic Acid and Poly-4-vinylpyridine in Relation to Erbium Ions

Phenomenon of the long-range effect of poly(methacrylic acid) hydrogel − poly(4-vinylpyridine) hydrogel (gPMAA−gP4VP intergel system) оn erbium ions sorption was studied. It was established that the structure of the basic hydrogel had a significant impact on the self-organization of the PMAA hydrogel. The mutual activation of hydrogels was investigated in an aqueous medium. Dependencies of swelling coefficient, specific electric conductivity and pH of aqueous solutions were determined. Individual PMAA and P4VP hydrogels showed the erbium ions extraction degree of about 44 % and 17 %, respectively. At the ratios 5:1 (83 % of gPMAA–17 % gP4VP) and 4:2 (67 % gMPAA–33 % gP4VP), 56 % and 53 % of erbium ions were recovered, respectively. After 48 h the PMAA and P4VP hydrogels had the polymer chain binding degree of 70 %. The obtained results point to the evidence that at these ratios there are significant changes in electrochemical and conformational degrees of initial macromolecules in gPMAA−gP4VP intergel system.