Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

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Composites: Part B
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Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate)/rice husk ash hydrogel composites.

II. Temperature effect on rice husk ash obtention
Jean de S. Cndido a, Antonio G.B. Pereira b, Andr R. Fajardo b, Ngila M.P.S. Ricardo c, Judith P.A. Feitosa c,
Edvani C. Muniz b, Francisco H.A. Rodrigues a,b,
a
b
c

Coordenao de Qumica, Universidade Estadual Vale do Acara, Av. da Universidade, 850, Campus da Betnia, 62040-370 Sobral-CE, Brazil
Departamento de Qumica, Universidade Estadual de Maring, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900 Maring-PR, Brazil
Departamento de Qumica Orgnica e Inorgnica, Campus do Pici, Universidade Federal do Cear, 60455-760 Fortaleza-CE, Brazil

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 13 October 2012
Received in revised form 15 February 2013
Accepted 10 March 2013
Available online 22 March 2013
Keywords:
A. Polymermatrix composites (PMCs)
A. Smart materials
D. Thermal analysis

a b s t r a c t
Superabsorbent hydrogel composites based on poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) and rice husk ash (RHA)
were prepared by free-radical copolymerization in aqueous media, using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide
(MBA), as crosslinker and potassium persulfate (K2S2O8), as initiator. The effect of calcination temperatures (400900 C) for obtaining RHA was evaluated. FTIR, WAXS, SEMEDS and TGA were applied to
characterize a series of hydrogels lled with RHA. The hydrogels composites were formed with constant
amounts of RHA (10 wt.%) and crosslinking agent (0.1 mol-%) in relation to the relative to the total mass
of acrylamide (AAm) and potassium acrylate (KAc) monomers (5050 mol-%). A blank sample of
poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) hydrogel without RHA was used as control. A superabsorbent hydrogel
composite, with a maximum absorption Weq > 1000 gwater/gabsorbent, was obtained with the RHA calcined
at 900 C. In addition, the hydrogel composite showed to be sensitive to the pH variation and to the presence of salts in the swelling media. From the results, it is possible to infer that the poly(acrylamide-coacrylate)/RHA hydrogel composites presented good characteristics to be applied as soil conditioner for
using in agriculture.
2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Searching for technologies considered ecologically correct has
become of major concern in recent years. This new paradigm of economic development is directed to provide an improvement in welfare of further generations, incorporating in their conception the
needing of new production methodologies able to reduce the pollution and the environmental impact. The large amounts of materials
that present low degradation rate at ambient conditions have
caused severe environmental, economic, social and juridical issues.
The rice husk ash (RHA) is an agro-industrial residue resulting
from the thermochemical conversion of rice husk, and as a waste,
the majority of RHA generated is discarded, causing pollution. The
physical and chemical properties of RHA are determined according
to the methodology applied to its production (pyrolysis, gasication and/or combustion, for instance) and by some variables, such
as, type of equipment employed, burning temperature and time.
Regardless the process of burning, the resultant ash has silica con-

Corresponding author at: Coordenao de Qumica, Universidade Estadual Vale

do Acara, Av. da Universidade, 850, Campus da Betnia, 62040-370 Sobral-CE,
Brazil. Tel./fax: +55 85 3611 6342.
E-mail address: almeida_quimica@yahoo.com.br (F.H.A. Rodrigues).
1359-8368/$ - see front matter 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2013.03.027

tent around 7497% [13]. On the other hand, temperature

achieved during calcination is the determining factor for the
appearance of silica in amorphous or crystalline states [4,5].
Several researchers have utilized RHA to prepare zeolites and
mesoporous materials [6,7], as an adsorbent for metal ions such
as Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ [8,9], and heavy metal such as lead and mercury from aqueous solution [10], as substitute for cement [11], as
alternative source for active silica production [12,13], as llers
for natural and synthetic rubbers [1416] and for acrylamideacrylate copolymer hydrogels [17]. Some organic matters, such as Congo red and vacuum pump oil [18], palmytic acid [19], Indigo
Carmine dye [20], Brilliant Green dye [21], Methylene Blue dye
[22], can also be absorbed by RHA.
Superabsorbent hydrogels are insoluble in water and can absorb
and retain large amounts of aqueous uids even under pressure.
Therefore, superabsorbents have great advantages over traditional
water-absorbing materials. Due to their excellent properties,
superabsorbent hydrogels have raised considerable interest and
they have been widely used in several elds, such as, hygienic
products, horticulture, gelactuators, drug delivery systems, as well
as water blocking tapes and coal dewatering [2329].
Based on above description, this paper is a second of a series of
papers in which superabsorbent hydrogels composites based on

JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) lled with RHA were formed. The

superabsorbent hydrogels composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction
(XRD), Scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive
spectroscopy X-ray (SEMEDS) and Thermogravimetry (TGA). In
this paper the focus is on the temperature effect of RHA obtention
as well as on the swellingdrying capabilities of hydrogels.
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
Acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid (AAc), N,N,N0 ,N0 -tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED), as catalyst, and potassium persulfate
(K2S2O8), as initiator, were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (USA).
N,N0 -methylenobisacrylamide (MBA), as crosslinker, was obtained
from Pharmacia Biotech (USA). The acrylate salt (KAc) was obtained by the neutralization of acrylic acid with potassium
hydroxide.
The used rice husk originates from Mucambo/CE, Brazil. Ashes
were produced through calcination in a mufe furnace at temperatures ranging from 400 to 900 C. The ashes, labeled as RHAT
(where T is the temperature applied during calcination), were previously ground, and sieved through a 325 mesh (644 lm) sieve
prior using in hydrogel formation. All reactants were of analytical
grade and were used without further purication.
2.2. Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) hydrogel formation
2.1 g of AAm and 3.25 g of KAc were added to 30 mL of distilled
water, bubbled with nitrogen gas (to reduce the inhibiting effect of
the oxygen in the radical polymerization). After 10 min, 16.2 mg of
K2S2O8 were added. Thus, MBA (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mol-% related to
the amount of monomers) and 100 L of TEMED solution 0.57 g L1
were also added. The system was maintained under stirring and
owing nitrogen until the hydrogel formation (up to 30 min), after
it was left to rest for further 15 h at room temperature. The as-obtained material was cut in small pieces and washed in distilled
water to remove non-reacted monomers. The hydrogels were
oven-dried at 70 C. The size distribution of particles spreads from
9 to 24 mesh (20.71 mm). The poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate)
hydrogel was labeled as PAMACRYL.
2.3. Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate)/RHA hydrogel composite formation
The poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate)/RHA hydrogel composites
were synthesized as described to the same methodology applied
to form the PAMACRYL hydrogel. However, the monomers were
dissolved in a dispersion of RHA obtained at different calcinations
temperature (10 wt.% related to the total amount of monomers).
The hydrogel composites were labeled as RHAG400, RHAG500,
RHAG600, RHAG700, RHAG800 and RHAG900 (where the number subscript is referent to the temperature of rice husk calcination).

247

2.4.3. Scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive

spectroscopy X-ray (SEMEDS)
The morphology of the hydrogels (with and without RHA) was
analyzed through scanning electron microscopy coupled to Energy
Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEMEDS/Shimadzu, model SS
550) operating at 10 keV. The hydrogels were immersed in distilled
water at room temperature until the equilibrium swelling has been
reached (approximately 24 h). Next, the samples were removed
and immediately frozen by immersion in liquid nitrogen. Thereafter, the frozen hydrogels were fractured and freeze-dried (Christ,
Alpha 12 LD Plus) at 55 C for 24 h. Then, the hydrogels were
gold-coated by sputtering before observation by SEMEDS.
2.4.4. Thermogravimetry (TGA)
TGA was performed in a Simultaneous Thermal Analysis System, Netzsch (Model STA 409 PG/4/G Luxx) with a scanning rate
of 10 C min1 under owing N2(g) at 20 mL min1 in a temperature
range from 22 to 1000 C.
2.5. Study of physical properties
2.5.1. Swelling experiments
Initially, the swelling tests were employed to determine water
uptake capacity of the materials. In this way, 15 mg of dried gels
were placed in 30 mL lter crucibles (porosity no. 0) pre-moistened and with a dried outer wall. This set was inserted in water
in such a way that the gel was completely submerged.
The crucible/hydrogel composite sample sets were removed at
various time intervals, with the external wall of the set dried and
the system weighed. For each sample, 3 assays were performed
(n = 3). The swelling capacity of the hydrogel composites was
determined by Eq. (1), where Weq is the gained water mass (in
grams) per gram of composite hydrogel (absorbent), m is the mass
of the swollen absorbent and m0 is the mass of the dry material
[17,30]. The kinetics of swelling in each studied medium was evaluated. The size distribution of the hydrogel composites remained
in the 924 mesh range.

W eq m=m0   1

2.5.2. The effect of the ionic strength and type of metal ions on the salt
The hydrogels were immersed in distinct salt aqueous solutions
at different concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 M) and the
swelling capabilities of gels were determined through the previously described procedures [17,30]. NaCl and NaHCO3 solutions
were used for studying the anion effect while NaCl and CaCl2 solutions were used for evaluating the cation effect on swelling
properties.
2.5.3. Evaluation of pH effect on swelling capability of gels
The effect of the pH on the swelling was also veried in buffer
solutions (pHs 212). The procedures were the same as described
above. The ionic strength of the buffer solutions was kept constant
(I = 0.1 M).

2.4. Characterization
3. Results and discussion
2.4.1. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
The FTIR spectra were obtained using Shimadzu FTIR-8300
equipment. The dried material was blended with KBr powder
and pressed into tablets before spectrum acquisition.
2.4.2. Wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS)
The WAXS proles of RHA and hydrogels were obtained through
a powder diffractometer Shimadzu model XRD 6000; with Cu Ka
radiation source at 30 kV and 20 mA.

3.1. FTIR and WAXS techniques

The FTIR spectra of RHA obtained at different temperatures are
shown in Fig. 1a. The bands assigned to the main vibrational modes
of SiAOASi bonds at 1100 cm1 and 800 cm1 and 471 cm1 appear in the spectra independent on temperature used for calcination. These bands are attributed to the asymmetric and
symmetric stretching and angular deformation, respectively [31

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JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

33]. The broad band at 3548 cm1 is assigned to the vicinal silanol
with hydrogen-bonded water. The intensity of band at 621 cm1
can be observed on spectra obtained for RHA calcined at
T P 700 C and intensies as the temperature used for calcinations
is increased. This band is characteristic of crystalline cristobalita
[34,35]. The FTIR spectra of hydrogels formed using the ash obtained at different temperatures are shown in Fig. 1b. These spectra
show the appearance of the bands at 1100, 800 and 471 cm1, assigned to SiO2 and SiAOASi bonds [3133]. Furthermore, a weak
band at 621 cm1 can be observed on FTIR spectra of hydrogel obtained using ashes burnt at T P 700 C. Thus, the presence of crystalline cristobalita [6,34] in hydrogel can be assigned. In addition,
the bands at 1670 cm1 and at 1564 cm1, related to the C@O
stretching and to the NAO stretching, respectively, due to the
formation of copolymers. These results indicate that copolymers
and RHA component coexisted in superabsorbent hydrogels
composites.
The WAXS patterns of RHA calcined at different temperatures
for 2 h and cooled to room temperature (within the mufe for
24 h) are shown in Fig. 1c. Such proles provide information relative to the main mineral constituint and structural parameters of
RHA. It can be noticed from WAXS proles that RHA calcined at different temperatures presented different structures corroborating
the FTIR data. The ashes obtained at T < 700 C showed no dened
diffraction peaks, but rather an amorphous halo that appears at ca.
2h = 22, which indicates the absence of crystalline domains, being

predominant the non-crystalline form of silica [13,35,36]. On the

other hand, RHA obtained at 900 C showed peaks of cristobalite,
indicating that the material is predominantly crystalline
[6,34,37]. Therefore, is possible to infer that when the rice husk
is calcined at high temperatures the resulting RHA presents crystalline structure.
The characteristics of amorphous and crystalline silica from
RHA calcined in different temperature are maintained in the
hydrogel composites (Fig. 1d) but the diffraction peak assigned to
the crystalline portion is enlarged due to the presence of copolymer. The WAXS patterns and FTIR data evidence the formation of
the hydrogel composite and suggest the presence of RHA into the
polymer matrix, as sketched in Fig. 2.
3.2. SEM coupled to energy dispersive X-ray scattering (SEMEDS)
Fig. 3 shows the SEM micrographs of freeze-dried hydrogel lled
with rice husk ashes (RHA400, RHA600 and RHA900) after being
swelled at equilibrium. All samples exhibit porous structure characteristic of hydrogels, however changes in structure of material due
to different types of ash (crystalline or not) can be evidenced. For instance, the micrograph of RHAG400 hydrogel shows homogeneous
porous distribution, but average size smaller than those of RHAG900,
while RHAG600 is in an intermediate condition. This phenomenon
could be responsible for the difference in the superabsorbent properties among RHAG900, RHAG600 and RHAG400 composites. EDS tech-

Fig. 1. (a) FTIR spectra of the RHA calcined in different temperatures; (b) FTIR spectra of the hydrogels composites; (c) WAXS patterns of the RHA calcined in different
temperatures and (d) WAXS patterns of the hydrogels composite.

JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

249

Fig. 2. Proposed model for the structure of hydrogel composite network (particle size 644 lm).

nique was utilized to evaluate the ller dispersion into polymer

matrixand the possible existence of silicate particles diffusion outward the hydrogel. Signal relative of silicon (from ashes) were evidenced on images generated by EDS mapping technique,
indicating the homogeneous dispersion of Si in whole matrix.
3.3. Thermal stability
TGA and DTG curves of PAMACRYL and hydrogels composites
(RHAG400, RHAG600 and RHAG900) lled with 10 wt.% of RHA calcined at different temperatures are shown and compared in
Fig. 4. The decomposition curve of PAMACRYL and hydrogel composites could be divided into three steps. The rst stage is in the
range of 50200 C due to a loss of moisture present in the samples. Following, the weight losses within the temperature of
300450 C, which are attributed to the thermal decomposition
of the carboxylate and amide side-groups of the copolymers, and
also MBA moieties in the network, leading to the evolution of
ammonia and other gases [38,39]. During this period, the onsets
of the PAMACRYL and hydrogels composites lled with RHA400,
RHA600 and RHA900 are similar and stability increases with increasing temperature in which the ashes were obtained, 391 C (33.5%),
386 C (31.4%), 395 C (33.4%) and 405 C (33.3%), respectively. The
third stage was attributed to the breakage of copolymer chains, in
which it was observed a displacement for higher temperatures. It
can be concluded from TGA data that the temperature in which
the RHA was calcined has an inuence on thermal stability of corresponding superabsorbent composites. The hydrogel RHA900
could enhance the thermal stability to the highest degree among
the hydrogel samples investigated. The properties of RHA in the
superabsorbent composite polymeric network may be the main
reasons for the difference in TGA result of this system.

constituent chains of the matrix. Swelling is primarily due to the

penetration of water into the hydrophilic polymer matrix by capillarity and diffusion. On the other hand, the swelling rate of a superabsorbent is signicantly inuenced by swelling capacity, size
distribution of powder particles, specic surface area, and apparent
density of polymer.
Fig. 5a shows the kinetics of swelling in distilled water of
RHAG400, RHAG600 and RHAG900 composites and PAMACRYL. The
observed trends in the swelling kinetics of four different samples
are very similar. The degree of swelling increased quickly during
the rst 20 min of immersion for all samples and ca. 90% of the
swelling equilibrium value was reached in this time range. Then,
a slower swelling process took place up to the equilibrium (Weq),
around 30 min. The Weq values and the speed for reach the equilibrium depend on the gel formulation (see the insertion on Fig. 5a).
The presence of RHA greatly improved the water absorbency at
equilibrium. Besides, RHAG900 composites took longest time to
reach equilibrium. The PAMACRYL hydrogel presented water
absorption capacity at equilibrium (Weq) of 645 gwater/gabsorbent
while RHAG400, RHAG600 and RHAG900 composites presented higher water absorption capabilities of 781, 802 and 1077 gwater/gabsrobent, respectively.
For evaluating the mechanism of the swelling process and the
temperature effect of RHA obtention on swelling kinetics of the
superabsorbent hydrogels composites, the second order swelling
kinetics model [40,41] was adopted to test the experimental data.
The second order swelling kinetic model can be expressed as
follows:

t=W A Bt

where

3.4. Kinetics of swelling

and

The swelling process of a hydrogel is controlled by chemical and

physical forces as well as by the consequent elastic response of the

1
ks w2t

1
wt

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JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

Fig. 3. SEM and EDS diffractograms of (a) RHAG400, (b) RHAG600, and (c) RHAG900 hydrogels composites.

The A parameter corresponds to an initial swelling rate

[(dW/dt)0] of the hydrogel, ks is the constant rate for swelling,
Wt is a theoretical swelling value at equilibrium. Wt and ks
were calculated by tting experimental data shown in
Fig. 5b to Eqs. (2)(4) and the results are given in Table 1.
For all the straight lines, the correlation coefcients (R2) were
higher than 0.999, indicating that the swelling processes of the
superabsorbents obey the model utilized for predict the
swelling.
The swelling rate constant (ks) for RHAG900 was smaller than
that of PAMACRYL. Although the introduction of RHA900 into PAM-

ACRYL network greatly improved the equilibrium water absorbency, the necessary time to reach the equilibrium was higher
leading to a slower swelling rate. The relationship between water
uptake capability and the temperature applied for obtaining the
RHA is shown in Fig. 6.
According to the swelling assays it is veried the RHAG900 presented highest water uptake because RHA900 has virtually no residue. RHA900 showed high crystallinity degree and the preferable
intra-interactions among its silanol groups set free new sites on
the hydrogel matrix that could interact to water increasing their
water uptake capacity.

JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

Fig. 4. (a) TGA and (b) DTG curves of PAMACRYL and hydrogels composites (RHAG

400,

251

RHAG600 and RHAG900) lled with 10 wt.% of RHA.

Fig. 5. (a) Degree of swelling and (b) plot of t/W versus t as a function of immersion time.

Table 1
Effect of temperature of obtaining the RHA swelling kinetics of hydrogels composites
formed.

a
b
c
d

Hydrogel

Weqa

Wtb

teqc

ksd

PAMACRYL
RHAG400
RHAG500
RHAG600
RHAG700
RHAG800
RHAG900

645 21
781 27
773 25
802 19
939 24
1031 26
1077 32

649
791
789
800
952
1056
1124

24 3
12 2
13 4
10 1
24 4
29 5
35 4

6.54  104
1.15  103
1.91  103
1.42  103
2.49  104
1.19  104
7.40  105

Experimental equilibrium swelling (gwater/gabsorbent).

Theoretical equilibrium swelling (gwater/gabsorbent).
Equilibrium time (min).
Swelling rate constant [(gabsorbent/gwater)/min].

3.4.1. Effect of salt solution on water absorbency

It has been conrmed, through theoretical and experimental
considerations, that the presence of ions has great effect on the
hydrogels swelling behavior [4244]. In this work, the inuence
of ions in the swelling capability of hydrogels was tested by the
addition of NaCl (0.0010.1 M) or NaHCO3 (0.1 M) or CaCl2
(0.1 M) in the hydrogel-surrounding solution.

Fig. 6. Effect of temperature for obtaining the RHA in the maximum swelling value
(Weq) of hydrogels composites.

Table 2 presents the data collected in swelling measurements

for the hydrogels in NaCl solution. The sensitivity of hydrogel to

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JdS. Cndido et al. / Composites: Part B 51 (2013) 246253

Table 2
Weq (gwater/gabsorbent) as function of the ionic force for the hydrogels.
Hydrogel

RHAG400
RHAG600
RHAG900
PAMACRYL

H2O

NaCl (0.001 M)

NaCl (0.01 M)

NaCl (0.05 M)

NaCl (0.1 M)

Weq

Weq

Weq

Weq

Weq

781 27
802 19
1077 32
645 21

445 6
459 4
638 7
361 4

0.43
0.43
0.41
0.44

249 3
253 2
345 4
195 2

0.68
0.68
0.68
0.70

118 2
123 2
169 3
85 1

0.85
0.85
0.84
0.87

84 1
87 1
114 2
63 1

0.89
0.89
0.89
0.91

presence of salts can be related by the dimensionless factor f dened as [45]:

f 1



W saline
W water

in which Wsaline and Wwater are, respectively, the swelling capacity

in saline solution and in deionized water. According to Eq. (5) the
f values range between 1 and zero. As close the value is of unit
(1.0) higher is the sensitivity of hydrogel to the presence of salt.
The opposite is valid: for f equal to zero the hydrogel would not possess any sensitivity to presence of salt. The f values (Table 2) indicate that the hydrogel composites undego slightly less inuence
to the presence of salt than PAMACRYL.
The increase in the ionic strength reduces the difference in the
concentration of movable ions between the polymer matrix and
the external solution (osmotic swelling pressure) and leads to an
immediate contraction of hydrogel network.
The presence of divalent and trivalent cations in swelling solution drastically reduces the swelling capacity of the hydrogels. This
is due to the complexation ability of carboxymide or carboxylate
groups and to the formation of inter and intramolecular complexes
[46,47]. The hydrogel composites presented greater Weq values in
saline solution (Table 3) as compared to PAMACRYL one.
Moreover, based on Weq values the hydrogel composites were
not sensible to the type (and size) of anion, because the values of
Weq were similar for Cl and HCO
3 salt counter ions. An analogous
observation was recently reported for poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) and cellulose nanowhiskers superabsorbent composites [48].
3.4.2. Equilibrium swelling in buffer solutions at various pH
The swelling behavior of PAMACRYL and composites (RHAG400,
RHAG600 and RHAG900) at several pH conditions was observed with
the use of buffer solutions at pHs 212 at constant ionic strength
(Fig. 7). An increase in Weq value was observed as the pH of the
external solution is increased [49]. In acidic medium, the carboxylate anions are protonated and the anionanion repulsive forces
vanishes; this leads to a minimum swelling of the hydrogel. As
swelled in buffer with higher pH values, the carboxylate groups
of hydrogels composites become ionized and the electrostatic
repulsion between ACOO groups causes expansion of matrix
and, consequently, increases Weq [50].
At pH > 4 the hydrogel swells much more due to the repulsion
of ACOO groups, while at pH 2 the hydrogel network fast collapses due to the shielding effect from excess of cations. The hydrogel nanocomposites based on starch-g-poly(sodium acrylate)
matrix lled with cellulose nanowhiskers studied by Spagnol

Table 3
Weq (gwater/gabsorbent) as function of the type of anion and cation.
Hydrogel

RHAG400
RHAG600
RHAG900
PAMACRYL

H2O

NaCl

Weq

Weq

Weq

NaHCO3
f

Weq

781 27
802 19
1077 32
645 21

85 1
87 2
114 3
63 1

0.89
0.89
0.89
0.91

83 2
79 2
117 2
69 1

0.89
0.90
0.89
0.89

26 1
24 1
38 2
17 1

0.97
0.97
0.96
0.97

Fig. 7. pH effect on the degree of swelling.

et al. [51] presented similar responsive behavior in relation to

pH. This behavior makes the hydrogels composites strong candidates to be utilized in controlled release systems. Hydrogels with
responses to variations of pH and temperature have been extensively studied within the referred class of smart materials which
have been applied in wastewater and industrial efuents, controlled drug release, separation membranes among others [5254].
4. Conclusions
Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate)/RHA hidrogel composites presenting relevant properties were successfully synthesized, as observed
by FTIR and WAXS techniques. RHA proceeding from rice husk was
calcined in different temperatures from 400 to 900 C. WAXS patterns showed that that RHA calcined at different temperatures presented different structures conrming the FTIR data. The ashes
obtained at T 6 700 C showed no dened diffraction peaks, i.e.,
presents silica with certain crystallinity. This study also evaluated
the effect of crystalline or amorphous RHA on the water uptake
capability of the hydrogel. The presence of RHA900 on acrylamideacrylate polymeric matrix improved the water-absorption
properties of material, providing an increase of 67% in the Weq values as compared to hydrogel without RHA particles. The RHA in
crystalline form induces higher water uptake capacity (Weq) of
composites hydrogels due to the intra-interactions among silanol
groups on RHA make available new sites in the polymer matrix,
which could interact to water. The hydrogels composite poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) lled with RHA proved to be adequate for the
use as soil conditioner. These preliminary results indicate that
the hydrogels composites have great potential for their utilization
in the agronomic area.

CaCl2

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the nancial support by FUNCAP (BPI 0280-106/08 and PIL 139.01.00/09), by CNPq (Proc.
507308/2010-7) and to COMCAP-UEM.

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