Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels

Hydrogels can be utilized to extract energy from salinity gradients when river water mixes with seawater. Saline-sensitive hydrogels exhibit a reversible swelling/shrinking process when they are, alternately, exposed to fresh and saline water. We present a comparison of several poly(acrylic acid)-ba...

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Main Authors: Tri Quang Bui, Vinh Duy Cao, Wei Wang, Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
Series:Polymers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/4/645
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author Tri Quang Bui
Vinh Duy Cao
Wei Wang
Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
author_facet Tri Quang Bui
Vinh Duy Cao
Wei Wang
Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
author_sort Tri Quang Bui
collection DOAJ
description Hydrogels can be utilized to extract energy from salinity gradients when river water mixes with seawater. Saline-sensitive hydrogels exhibit a reversible swelling/shrinking process when they are, alternately, exposed to fresh and saline water. We present a comparison of several poly(acrylic acid)-based hydrogels, including poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(acrylic acid-<i>co</i>-vinylsulfonic acid) (PAA/PVSA), and poly(4-styrenessulfonic acid-<i>co</i>-maleic acid) interpenetrated in a poly(acrylic acid) network (PAA/PSSA-MA). The hydrogels were synthesized by free radical polymerization, copolymerization, and by semi-IPN (interpenetrating polymer network). The hydrogels were placed in a piston-like system to measure the recovered energy. Semi-IPN hydrogels exhibit a much higher recovered energy compared to the copolymer and PAA hydrogel. The recovered energy of 60 g swollen gel was up to 4 J for the PAA/PSSA-MA hydrogel. The obtained energy per gram dried gel was up to 13.3 J/g. The swelling volume of the hydrogels was maintained for 30 cycles without decline in recovered energy.
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spelling doaj.art-27604828080d4878a1d05af843fdca342023-12-11T17:57:25ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-02-0113464510.3390/polym13040645Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based HydrogelsTri Quang Bui0Vinh Duy Cao1Wei Wang2Anna-Lena Kjøniksen3Faculty of Engineering, Østfold University College, P.O. Box 700, 1757 Halden, NorwayFaculty of Engineering, Østfold University College, P.O. Box 700, 1757 Halden, NorwayDepartment of Chemistry & Center for Pharmacy, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, 5020 Bergen, NorwayFaculty of Engineering, Østfold University College, P.O. Box 700, 1757 Halden, NorwayHydrogels can be utilized to extract energy from salinity gradients when river water mixes with seawater. Saline-sensitive hydrogels exhibit a reversible swelling/shrinking process when they are, alternately, exposed to fresh and saline water. We present a comparison of several poly(acrylic acid)-based hydrogels, including poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(acrylic acid-<i>co</i>-vinylsulfonic acid) (PAA/PVSA), and poly(4-styrenessulfonic acid-<i>co</i>-maleic acid) interpenetrated in a poly(acrylic acid) network (PAA/PSSA-MA). The hydrogels were synthesized by free radical polymerization, copolymerization, and by semi-IPN (interpenetrating polymer network). The hydrogels were placed in a piston-like system to measure the recovered energy. Semi-IPN hydrogels exhibit a much higher recovered energy compared to the copolymer and PAA hydrogel. The recovered energy of 60 g swollen gel was up to 4 J for the PAA/PSSA-MA hydrogel. The obtained energy per gram dried gel was up to 13.3 J/g. The swelling volume of the hydrogels was maintained for 30 cycles without decline in recovered energy.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/4/645hydrogelsalinity gradientpolyelectrolyterecovered energy
spellingShingle Tri Quang Bui
Vinh Duy Cao
Wei Wang
Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
Polymers
hydrogel
salinity gradient
polyelectrolyte
recovered energy
title Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
title_full Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
title_fullStr Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
title_full_unstemmed Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
title_short Recovered Energy from Salinity Gradients Utilizing Various Poly(Acrylic Acid)-Based Hydrogels
title_sort recovered energy from salinity gradients utilizing various poly acrylic acid based hydrogels
topic hydrogel
salinity gradient
polyelectrolyte
recovered energy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/4/645
work_keys_str_mv AT triquangbui recoveredenergyfromsalinitygradientsutilizingvariouspolyacrylicacidbasedhydrogels
AT vinhduycao recoveredenergyfromsalinitygradientsutilizingvariouspolyacrylicacidbasedhydrogels
AT weiwang recoveredenergyfromsalinitygradientsutilizingvariouspolyacrylicacidbasedhydrogels
AT annalenakjøniksen recoveredenergyfromsalinitygradientsutilizingvariouspolyacrylicacidbasedhydrogels