Cross-linked hydrophilic polymers: universal sensors for analyzing solutions containing polar organic compounds
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Abstract
This study presents a quantitative assessment of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) granules as sensing elements for detecting aliphatic carboxylic acids and their sodium salts in aqueous solutions. Swelling kinetics were measured across solute concentrations ranging from 0.2 N to 1.0 N, with the granule radius varying between 0.31- and 0.43-mm. Results indicated that both carbon chain length and the presence of additional carboxyl groups exert a pronounced effect on the equilibrium swelling degree, thereby highlighting the interplay between hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen-bond formation. To interpret these observations, a heterophase physicomathematical model was employed, yielding three main kinetic coefficients (K1, K2, and K3) that capture solvent flux, polymer network elasticity, and solute transport. The model fits exhibited root-mean-square deviations below 1 %, attesting to its reliability in describing complex swelling - deswelling processes. Additionally, three-dimensional kinetic surfaces were constructed to illustrate how swelling evolves over time and concentration, revealing that initial swelling curves can serve as a rapid indicator of solute concentration. By leveraging the reversible nature of polymer swelling, this method offers a non-invasive, cost-effective approach suitable for monitoring organic acids in diverse fields such as environmental analysis, pharmaceutical processes, and chemical engineering.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
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© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Material Properties
- Nonisothermal crystallization and compatibility performances of poly(d-lactide) and poly(l-lactide) blends modified with poly(butylene succinate)
- Preparation and Assembly
- Research on modification strategies of bio-based polyamide 56
- Cross-linked hydrophilic polymers: universal sensors for analyzing solutions containing polar organic compounds
- β-Cyclodextrin modified PSF bifunctional blood purification membrane for bilirubin removal
- Radiochromic film dosimeter based on povidone-iodine for gamma dosimetric applications
- Engineering and Processing
- Blade coating process using hyperbolic tangent model: a perturbation method
- Dynamic excellence in magnetorheological shear stiffening gel: fabrication and formulation of a diagonal and distributional particle chain model
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Material Properties
- Nonisothermal crystallization and compatibility performances of poly(d-lactide) and poly(l-lactide) blends modified with poly(butylene succinate)
- Preparation and Assembly
- Research on modification strategies of bio-based polyamide 56
- Cross-linked hydrophilic polymers: universal sensors for analyzing solutions containing polar organic compounds
- β-Cyclodextrin modified PSF bifunctional blood purification membrane for bilirubin removal
- Radiochromic film dosimeter based on povidone-iodine for gamma dosimetric applications
- Engineering and Processing
- Blade coating process using hyperbolic tangent model: a perturbation method
- Dynamic excellence in magnetorheological shear stiffening gel: fabrication and formulation of a diagonal and distributional particle chain model
