Gamma Radiation–Induced Synthesis of Pectin/Arabic Gum‑Based Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Enhanced Water Remediation

Abstract

Industrial dye contamination represents a major environmental concern, necessitating efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. In this study, a CuO@pectin/Arabic gum-g-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (CuO@pectin/Arabic gum-g-DEAEMA) nanocomposite hydrogel was developed via gamma irradiation–induced copolymerization, providing a clean and initiator-free synthesis route. Successful incorporation of CuO nanoparticles was confirmed by DLS, EDX, and XRD analyses, while TGA demonstrated enhanced thermal stability. SEM observations revealed a rough and wrinkled surface morphology favorable for dye adsorption. BET analysis further showed that CuO incorporation increased the surface area from 14.05 to 28.22 m2 g⁻1 and the total pore volume from 0.08685 to 0.2201 cm3 g⁻1, confirming improved porosity and accessibility of adsorption sites. Adsorption studies showed that methylene blue (MB) removal follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating chemisorption, while the Freundlich isotherm suggests heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. The CuO-containing hydrogel exhibited significantly improved adsorption performance compared with the pristine system. In addition, the nanocomposite demonstrated antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, indicating potential resistance to biofouling. The developed hydrogel combines green synthesis, enhanced porosity, improved adsorption efficiency, and multifunctional performance, making it a promising candidate for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.