Magnetic hydrochar grafted-chitosan for enhanced efficient adsorption of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions: Modeling, adsorption behavior, and mechanism analysis

Synthesis of NiCo2O4 supported on Chitosan for potential adsorption of copper ions in water samples

The present work involved the synthesis of nano-spinel oxide, which was subsequently incorporated into chitosan to enhance the adsorption efficiency of Cu(II) from aqueous samples. The chitosan was compared with the modified chitosan (nickel cobaltite@Chitosan) in terms of adsorption performance toward Cu (II) ions. Structural and morphological characterization was investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), which confirms the crystalline structure; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to reveal surface morphology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), to examine the nanoscale dispersion, and thermal analysis, to asses the material stability. Various experimental parameters, including pH and catalyst mass loading, were tuned. The adsorption data were found to be best described by Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer adsorption. The reaction order was found to obey pseudo-first-order kinetics, suggesting that physisorption controls the process. The synthesized catalyst had a retention efficiency of 92% across three consecutive cycles, demonstrating its potential as a reusable and efficient adsorbent for Cu(II) removal from water.

Innovative nanocomposites for pollutant capture: Adsorption of rhodamine B dye using polyaniline-coated chitosan trisodium citrate nanocomposites

Wastewater contamination by organic dyes, especially Rhodamine B (RhB), possess a significant environmental challenge. This study explores a novel bio sorbent for the removal of RhB dye from contaminated water, using chitosan trisodium citrate-modified magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@CSTSC@PANI) coated with polyaniline. The nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, HRTEM, SEM, BET surface analysis. The UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the adsorption of dye on the nanocomposite. The Fe₃O₄@CSTSC@PANI nanocomposite exhibits a spherical core-shell morphology with a size range of 29-53 nm, a BET surface area of 13.099 m2/g, and high reusability. The pore area of the material increased from 0.8058 m2/g at 15.29 Å radius to 10.65 m2/g at 1310.89 Å, with a corresponding change in pore volume from 0.0006.16 cc/g to 0.0227 cc/g. This shows the significant contribution of the porous and mesoporous structures of polyaniline-coated chitosan trisodium citrate (nanocomposites) to the adsorption performance for pollutant capture such as Rhodamine B dye. Adsorption studies showed optimal RhB removal of 97.2 % at near neutral pH. Adsorption was most optimal at pH 6-9, with the highest efficiency near neutral pH, which facilitates electrostatic interactions. High temperature (10-70 °C) promoted the endothermic adsorption process, improving the dye uptake. The optimal adsorbent dosage (0.21-1.6 g/L) and equilibrium contact time (30-840 min) were determined. The nanocomposite material showed good recovery, maintaining high efficiency after 4 reuse cycles, demonstrating its practicality in sustainable environmental remediation. The adsorption mechanism was elucidated by isotherm and kinetic studies, which revealed that the process followed a pathway dominated by chemisorption facilitated by the interaction between polyaniline-coated chitosan nanocomposites and Rhodamine B dye molecules. This is the synergistic effect of electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, confirming the strong affinity of the mixture for the dye.

Iron oxide nanoparticles as efficient adsorbents for malachite green dye removal: Isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics analysis

The presence of dye contamination in waterbodies has emerged as a widespread environmental issue and poses a significant threat to the well-being of humans and the aquatic ecosystem. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising field in tackling dye pollution. Nanomaterials such as iron oxide nanoparticles have gained considerable interest for potential applications in treating dye-contaminated wastewater. Hence, the current work focuses on the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FMNP) using the chemical co-precipitation method and its adsorptive performance for removing malachite green (MG) dye from wastewater. The synthesized FMNP was characterized using SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, BET, TGA, and Raman analysis. As obtained from SEM and XRD analysis, the FMNP has cubic crystals with an average crystal size of 8.0 nm and a crystallinity of 78.643%. The average pore size, specific surface area, and micropore volume were 4.217 nm, 172.548 m2.g-1, and 0.342 cm3.g-1, respectively. Batch adsorption studies revealed that MG dye adsorption was sensitive to solution pH, initial MG dye concentration, contact time, dosage, and temperature. Under optimum conditions of pH 12, MG dye concentration 50 mg.L-1, contact time 90 min, dosage of 0.2 g.L-1, and at 328.15 K, a maximum removal of 98.814% was attained with a maximum adsorption capacity of 606.06 mg.g-1. MG dye adsorption best fits the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The economically feasible reusability of the synthesized FMNP is demonstrated by its consistent performance across several cycles. The results demonstrate the significance of using this mesoporous FMNP as an adsorbent for effectively treating dye wastewater.

Highly efficient removal of adsorbed cationic dyes by dual-network chitosan-based hydrogel

This research presents the effective preparation of a novel dual network chitosan-based hydrogel (CMAPP) for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), crystalline violet (CV), and basic fuchsin (BF) using the sol-gel method to address the escalating issue of dye pollution. FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, TGA, and zeta potential study examined hydrogel production and physicochemical properties. To ascertain the maximum adsorption capacity, the influences of pH, temperature, initial dye concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dosage on adsorption were systematically analyzed. It was observed that CMAPP demonstrated significant removal efficiencies (97.62%, 96.67%, 98.12%, and 99.32%) for the dyes MB, MG, CV, and BF at a concentration of 500 mg/L under optimal conditions. The findings from the adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies indicated that pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir model were the most appropriate for characterizing the adsorption process of hydrogels. The thermodynamic findings demonstrated that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. After five cycles of adsorption, the hydrogel demonstrated a consistent dye removal efficiency of around 80%, indicating commendable recyclability. In the interference studies, CMAPP exhibits superior anti-interference capability against CV and BF, which is advantageous for its practical application. The findings from XPS and FTIR investigations indicate that electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and n-π interactions are the primary forces between the adsorbent and the dyes. The synthesis of CMAPP offers an innovative approach for the effective elimination of cationic dyes and demonstrates significant potential in the treatment of complicated wastewater.

Utilization of peanut hull hydrochar /beta cyclodextrin/Fe3O4 magnetic composite for lead ion removal from water solution

This study involves synthesizing peanut hull hydrochar (PHH) and a PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite through hydrothermal and chemical precipitation methods, respectively, to use as effective adsorbents for Pb2+ removal. Vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses revealed that the magnetic saturation value and specific active surface area of PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4 are 31.543 emu/g and 32.123 m2/g, respectively. The impact of key variables on adsorption efficiency was evaluated using the response surface method - central composite design. ANOVA results (F-value: 166.22 and p-value: <0.05) demonstrated that the model effectively assesses the interaction of variables in the adsorption process. Additionally, R2, Adjusted R2, and Predicted R2 values were 0.999, 0.986, and 0.975, respectively, indicating the model's high adequacy in describing response changes. The maximum efficiency for Pb2+ adsorption was found to be 95.35% using PHH and 99.73% with the PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite. These measurements were taken at a temperature of 25 °C, an adsorbent dose of 1 g/L, a pH of 6, and a Pb2+ concentration of 5 mg/L, with respective contact times of 130 min and 50 min. Thermodynamic analysis revealed negative enthalpy and Gibbs free energy values, indicating that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous. The negative entropy parameter suggests a reduction in random interactions during the process. The Pb2+ adsorption data for both PHH (R2: 0.982) and PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4 (R2: 0.985) were best described by the Pseudo 2nd order kinetic model. Equilibrium data followed the Freundlich model, with R2 values of 0.981 for PHH and 0.990 for PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4, highlighting the importance of heterogeneous surfaces in the removal process. The maximum adsorption capacities for Pb2+ were 26.72 mg/g for PHH and 33.88 mg/g for PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4. Reuse and stability tests confirmed the structural stability and reusability of the adsorbents. Therefore, the PHH/β-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite is a promising option for removing Pb2+ from aqueous solutions.

Efficient adsorption of cationic dyes by a novel honeycomb-like porous hydrogel with ultrahigh mechanical property

The optimization of hydrogel structure is crucial for adsorption capacity, mechanical stability, and reusability. Herein, a chitosan and laponite-XLS co-doped poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) hydrogel (CXAA) with honeycomb-like porous structures is synthesized by cooperative cross-linking of 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) and laponite-XLS in reticular frameworks of acrylic acid (AAc) and acrylamide (AM). The CXAA exhibits extraordinary mechanical performances including tough tensile strength (3.36 MPa) and elasticity (2756 %), which facilitates recycling in practical adsorption treatment and broadens potential applications. Since the regular porous structures can fully expose numerous adsorption sites and electronegative natures within polymer materials, CXAA displays efficient and selective adsorption properties for cationic dyes like methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) from mixed pollutants and can reach record-high values (MB = 6886 mg g-1, MG = 11,381 mg g-1) compared with previously reported adsorbents. Therefore, CXAA exhibits promising potential for separating cationic and anionic dyes by their charge disparities. Mechanism studies show that the synergistic effects of HACC, laponite-XLS, and functional groups in monomers promote highly efficient adsorption. Besides, the adsorption capacity of CXAA remains stable even after undergoing five cycles of regeneration. The results confirm that CXAA is a promising adsorbent for effectively removing organic dyes in wastewater.

Cellulose-citric acid-chitosan@metal sulfide nanocomposites: Methyl orange dye removal and antibacterial activity

In this study, to develop efficient adsorbents in removing water pollution, new cellulose-citric acid-chitosan@metal sulfide nanocomposites (CL-CA-CS@NiS and CL-CA-CS@CuS) were synthesized by one-pot reaction at mild conditions and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm. The results of characterization techniques confirm that the desired compounds have been successfully synthesized. The as-prepared composites were applied for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions using a batch technique, and the effect of key factors such as initial pH, shaking time, MO concentration, temperature and adsorbent dose were investigated and discussed. Adsorption results exhibited positive impact of temperature, shaking time and adsorbent dose on the MO removal percent. The MO removal percent has been increased over a wide range of pH from 2 (27.6 %) to 6 (98.8 %). Also, almost being constant over a wide range of MO concentration (10-70 mg/L). The results demonstrated that the maximum removal percentage of MO dye (98.9 % and 93.4 % using CL-CA-CS@NiS and CL-CA-CS@CuS, respectively) was achieved under the conditions of pH 6, shaking time of 120 min, adsorbent dose of 0.02 g, MO concentration of 70 mg/L and temperature of 35 °C. The pseudo-second-order (PSO) and Langmuir models demonstrated the best fit to the kinetic and equilibrium data. Also, the thermodynamic results showed that the MO removal process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MO adsorption can be happened by different electrostatic attraction, n-π and π-π stacking and also hydrogen bonding interaction. In addition, antibacterial activity of CL-CA-CS@NiS and CL-CA-CS@CuS nanocomposites exhibited a superior efficiency against S. aureus.

Biopolymer‑carbonaceous composites, progress, and adsorptive mitigation of water pollutants

Chitin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer, which is composed of N-acetyl glucosamine units linked by β-(1 → 4) Chitosan is an N-deacetylated product of chitin. Properties of chitosan and chitin, such as biocompatibility, non-toxic nature, and biodegradability, make them successful alternatives for energy and environmental applications. However, their low mechanical properties, small surface area, reduced thermal properties, and greater pore volume restrict the potential for adsorption applications. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that these flaws can be prevented by fabricating chitosan and chitin with carbon-based composites. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the fabrication of chitosan/chitin carbon-based materials. Furthermore, this review examines the prevalent technologies of functionalizing chitosan/chitin biopolymers and applications of chitin and chitosan as well as chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites, in various environmental fields (mitigating diverse water contaminants and developing biosensors). Also, the subsequent regeneration and reuse of adsorbents were also discussed. Finally, we summarize a concise overview of the difficulties and potential opportunities associated with the utilization of chitosan/chitin carbon-based composites as adsorbents to remove water contaminants.

Effectiveness of polyacrylamide-g-gelatin/ACL/Mg-Fe LDH composite hydrogel as an eliminator of crystal violet dye

Cationic synthetic dyes are one of the hazards in aqueous solutions that can affect the health of humans and living organisms. In the current work, polyacrylamide (PAM)-g-gelatin hydrogel and modified PAM-g-gelatin hydrogel using activated carbon of Luffa cylindrica (ACL) and ACL/Mg-Fe LDH were applied to eliminate crystal violet (CV), a cationic dye, from water media. The hydrogels were synthesized using free radical polymerization approach, and the hydrogels were characterized using FTIR, XRD, TGA-DTG, BET, SEM, and EDX-Map. The surface area of ACL, ACL/Mg-Fe LDH, PAM-g-gelatin, PAM-g-gelatin/ACL, and PAM-g-gelatin/ACL/Mg-Fe LDH were 99.71, 141.99, 0.74, 1.47, and 1.65 m2/g, respectively, which shows that the presence of ACL and ACL/Mg-Fe LDH improved the area of the hydrogels. The maximum abatement of CV using PAM-g-gelatin (92.81%), PAM-g-gelatin/ACL (95.71%), and PAM-g-gelatin/ACL/Mg-Fe LDH (98.25%) was obtained at pH=9, temperature 25 °C, 10 mg/L CV, 60 min time, and adsorber dose of 2 g/L (for PAM-g-gelatin) and 1.5 g/L (other samples). The value of thermodynamic factors confirmed that the abatement process is exothermic and spontaneous. The kinetics data followed the pseudo-second kinetic (PSO) model. The Langmuir isotherm model had a more remarkable ability to describe the equilibrium data. The maximum adsorption capacity for PAM-g-gelatin, PAM-g-gelatin/ACL, and PAM-g-gelatin/ACL/Mg-Fe LDH was determined 35.45, 39.865, and 44.952 mg/g, respectively. Generally, the studied hydrogels can eliminate dyes from wastewater and be used as effective adsorbers.

Advanced technologies in water treatment: Chitosan and its modifications as effective agents in the adsorption of contaminants

Chitosan, derived from the abundant biopolymer chitin, has emerged as a promising option for water treatment due to its intrinsic bioavailability. This review emphasizes the notable characteristics of chitosan, which allow for various modifications, expanding its applications. The polymer's effectiveness in adsorbing contaminants, particularly in advanced water treatment technologies, is highlighted. The review underscores the potential of chitosan-based hybrid materials, including nanocomposites, hydrogels, membranes, films, sponges, nanoparticles, microspheres, and flakes, as innovative alternatives to traditional chemical-based adsorbents. The advantages of using these materials in wastewater treatment, especially in removing heavy metals, dyes, and emerging compounds, are explored. The study delves into the mechanisms involved in wastewater treatment with chitosan, emphasizing the interactions between the polymer and various contaminants. Additionally, the application of chitosan as a contaminant removal agent in a post-pandemic context is addressed, considering the challenges related to waste management and environmental preservation. The analysis highlights the potential contribution of chitosan in mitigating environmental impacts post-pandemic, offering practical solutions for treating contaminated effluents and promoting sustainability. The study addresses current obstacles and prospects for chitosan-based wastewater treatment, emphasizing its promising role in sustainable water management.

Crosslinked chitosan-montmorillonite composite and its magnetized counterpart for the removal of basic fuchsin from wastewater: Parametric optimization using Box-Behnken design

Treating wastewater polluted with organic dyestuffs is still a challenge. In that vein, facile synthesis of a structurally simple composite of chitosan with montmorillonite (CS-MMT) using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker and the magnetized analogue (MAG@CS-MMT) was proposed as versatile adsorbents for the cationic dye, basic Fuchsin (FUS). Statistical modeling of the adsorption process was mediated using Box-Behnken (BB) design and by varying the composite dose, pH, [FUS], and contact time. Characterization of both composites showed an enhancement of surface features upon magnetization, substantiating a better FUS removal of the MAG@CS-MMT (%R = 98.43 %) compared to CS-MMT (%R = 68.02 %). The surface area analysis demonstrates that MAG@CS-MMT possesses a higher surface area, measuring 41.54 m2/g, and the surface analysis of the magnetized nanocomposite, conducted using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies, proved the presence of FeO peaks. In the same context, adsorption of FUS onto MAG@CS-MMT fitted-well to the Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum adsorption capacities (qm) were 53.11 mg/g for CS-MMT and 88.34 mg/g for MAG@CS-MMT. Kinetics investigation shows that experimental data fitted well to the pseudo-second order (PSO) model. Regeneration study reveals that MAG@CS-MMT can be recovered effectively for repeated use with a high adsorption efficiency for FUS.

A novel chitosan-alginate@Fe/Mn mixed oxide nanocomposite for highly efficient removal of Cr (VI) from wastewater: Experiment and adsorption mechanism

In this study, the synthesis and experimental theoretical evaluation of a new chitosan/alginate/hydrozyapatite nanocomposite doped with Mn2 and Fe2O3 for Cr removal was reported. The physicochemical properties of the obtained materials were analyzed using the following methods: SEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, XPS, pH drift measurements, and thermal analysis. The adsorption properties were estimated based on equilibrium and adsorption kinetics measurements. The Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were applied to analyze the equilibrium data. The thermodynamic analysis of adsorption isotherms was performed. A number of equations and kinetic models were used to describe the adsorption rate data, including pseudo-first (PFOE) and pseudo-second (PSOE) order kinetic equations. The obtained test results show that the synthesized biomaterial, compared to pure chitosan, is characterized by greater resistance to high temperatures. Moreover, this biomaterial had excellent adsorption properties. For the adsorption of Cr (VI), the equilibrium state was reached after 120 min, and the sorption capacity was 455.9 mg/g. In addition, DFT calculations and NCI analyses were performed to get more light on the adsorption mechanism of Cr (VI) on the prepared biocomposite.