Mössbauer spectroscopy study of iron complexes in a poly(methacrylic acid) hydrogel matrix

Using Mossbauer spectroscopy, we have studied iron complexes resulting from the interaction of aqueous iron salt solutions with poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) gel. In these complexes, the di- and trivalent Fe ions are linked to the PMAA through the COO− functional group. From the observed dynamics of the variation in the intensities of the di- and trivalent iron in the Mossbauer spectra of the gels with incubation time and iron concentration in solution, we have inferred a model for the incorporation of Fe ions into a gel matrix.