Thermo-responsive Hydrogel with Deep Eutectic Mixture Co-Monomer As Drawing Agent for Forward Osmosis

Deep eutectic mixture (DEM) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were co-polymerized as thermo-responsive P(NIPAM-co-DEM) hydrogel drawing agents for forward osmosis (FO). N-hexyl-N,N-dihydroxyethyl-N-methylammonium chloride–acrylic acid ([DHEA]Cl-AA) DEM is non-toxic and highly conductive due to its ionic (R4N+, Cl−) and hydrophilic (-OH, -C=O) groups. Addition of DEM at different contents (0–7.5 wt%) afforded P(NIPAM-co-DEM) with wide open pores as excellent water channels during water absorption. Their critical temperatures ranged Tc = 34.7–51.4 °C. At T < Tc, P(NIPAM-co-DEM) attained equilibrium swelling ratios = 32–43 (vs. 19 for PNIPAM), highlighting the advantage of DEM for enhanced water absorption. Heating the hydrogels at T > Tc resulted in 87.6–96 % dewatering efficiencies. Among the fabricated hydrogels, P(NIPAM-co-DEM) with 5 wt% DEM exhibited the highest water uptake and dewatering efficiency at moderate Tc. It achieved the highest FO water flux (initial Jv = 2.38 LMH in DI water feed). P(NIPAM-co-DEM) with 5 wt% DEM effectively and consistently desalinated low salinity water (2000 mg L−1 NaCl, Jv = 1.81 LMH) and treated domestic wastewater (Jv = 1.90 LMH) at T = 25 °C in cycled operations via efficient water recovery T = 45 °C and hydrogel drying via solar irradiation (1 kW m−2 for 1.5 h). Overall results demonstrate the potential of deep eutectic mixtures for the development of hydrogels as effective FO drawing agents.