In situ fluorescence study of swelling, sorption and desorption processes in and out of PAAm gels

Abstract

Small molecule sorption and desorption in and out of polyacrylamide (PAAm) gels were studied at various temperatures. Pyranine (P(y)) dissolved in water used as a probe. Fluorescence emission intensity, I(p) from P(y) was monitored for studying sorption and desorption processes. Scattered light intensities, I(SC) from PAAm gel was also monitored to observed structural variations during sorption and desorption process. Li-Tanaka model was applied to produce the swelling time constants, tau(C) and sorption coefficients, D(C) for the swelling processes. on the other hand, sorption and desorption processes were studied and coefficients were produced by using Fickian model. Related activation energies were also calculated from the corresponding physical processes.