Synthesis of biogenic nano-silica hydrogel from foxtail millet ashes husk via greener approach

Abstract

Abstract Hydrogels are hydrophilic groups of three-dimensional polymeric biomaterials that can absorb huge quantities of biological fluids and water molecules. The hydrogels played an important role in eco-friendly parameters like pH, electric field, temperature, ionic concentration, and solvent composition. The preparation of pH-sensitive hydrogels of foxtail millet ashes husks with the presence of hydrochloric acid to the formation of biogenic nano-silica hydrogels toward a low-cost, simple, solventless greener approach. The chemical structure and morphology of hydrogels was identified using FT-IR spectra techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The swelling equilibrium studies of nano-silica hydrogels at different pH values from 1.2 to 15.2 have been examined. Swelling studies results indicate the percentage of swelling is comparation higher at neutral pH than acidic and alkaline pH. The swelling properties of eco-friendly hydrogels increase chain length from biogenic nano-silica hydrogels. The hydrogel’s adaptableness with pH-sensitive properties may have better probable in greener approach like dye removal, metal ion removal, agrochemical release, and biomedical field.