Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Polymers and the Environment https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-020-01822-8 ORIGINAL PAPER Novel Collagen‑Chitosan Based Hydrogels Reinforced with Manganite as Potential Adsorbents of Pb 2+ Ions Jesús A. Claudio‑Rizo 1  · Nidia G. Burciaga‑Montemayor 1  · Lucia F. Cano‑Salazar 1  · Tirso E. Flores‑Guía 1  · Denis A. Cabrera‑Munguía 1  · Adan Herrera‑Guerrero 2  · Florentino Soriano‑Corral 2 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract The contamination of water by Pb 2+ ions is a problem that requires an imminent solution. Design of hydrogels based on polymers as well as inorganic phases is an innovative alternative for the generation of matrices with adapted properties. This work proposes the synthesis of a novel composite hydrogel based on collagen-polyurethane-chitosan reinforced with man- ganite; this inorganic phase increases the velocity of the adsorption process of the Pb 2+ ions. The efect of the concentration of manganite on the properties of composite hydrogels is studied. The results indicate that the composite reinforced with manganite presents an amorphous structure, improved mechanical properties and resistance to the both acidic and proteo- lytic degradation. The hydrogel with 35 wt% of manganite show a removal rate of Pb 2+ of 91 ± 6% at 24 h. These hydrogel composites could represent an efcient and sustainable alternative for the removal of Pb 2+ ions from contaminated water. Graphic Abstract Keywords Hydrogel · Composite · Collagen · Chitosan · Manganite · Adsorption · Pb(II) Extended author information available on the last page of the article