Hybrid Chitosan Biosorbents: Tunable Adsorption at Surface and Micropore Domains

Herein, we report a study that provides new insight on the knowledge gaps that relate to the role of biopolymer structure and adsorption properties for chitosan adsorbents that are cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The systematic modification of chitosan cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (CG) and its quaternized forms (QCG) was studied in relation to the reaction conditions: mole ratios of reactants and pH conditions. Complementary adsorbent characterization employed 13C NMR/FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and DSC, point-zero-charge (PZC), solvent swelling, and sorption studies using selected dye probes. The spectral and thermal techniques provide complementary evidence that affirm the key role of cross-linker content and quaternization on variation of the physicochemical properties of chitosan. The PZC results reveal a neutral surface charge for the modified materials between pH 6.0 to 6.3 ± 0.3, as compared with pH 8.7 ± 0.4 for pristine chitosan. Solvent swelling in water decreased with greater cross-linking, while the QCG materials had greater swelling over CG materials due to enhanced hydration. The adsorption results reveal variable dye uptake properties according to the cross-linker content. Similarly, surface versus micropore adsorption was demonstrated, according to the nature and ionization state of the dye for the modified adsorbents, where the CG and QCG materials had tunable sorption properties that exceeded that of unmodified chitosan. A key step in tuning the structure and surface chemical properties of cross-linked chitosan involves pH control during synthesis. The facile tunability of the physicochemical properties of the modified biopolymers reported herein means that they possess features of biomimetics that are relevant to advanced drug delivery, antimicrobial materials for wound healing, biosensors, and biosorbents for biomedical applications.

Adsorptive decontamination of antibiotics from livestock wastewater by using alkaline-modified biochar

Efficient abatement of antibiotics from livestock wastewater is in urgent demand, but still challenging. In this study, alkaline-modified biochar with larger surface area (130.520 m² g^-1) and pore volume (0.128 cm³ g^-1) was fabricated and explored for the adsorption of different types of antibiotics from livestock wastewater. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process was mainly determined by chemisorption and was heterogeneous, which could be moderately affected by the variations of solution pH (3-10). Furthermore, the computational analysis based on density functional theory (DFT) indicated that the -OH groups on biochar surface could serve as the dominant active sites for antibiotics adsorption due to the strongest adsorption energies between antibiotics and -OH groups. In addition, the antibiotics removal was also evaluated in multi-pollutants system, where biochar performed synergistic adsorption towards Zn²⁺/Cu²⁺ and antibiotics. Overall, these findings not only deepen our understandings on the adsorption mechanism between biochar and antibiotics, but also promote the application of biochar in the remediation of livestock wastewater.

Ultrasonic supported dye removal by a novel biomass

Sumac Leaves (Rhus Coriaria L), were used as a possible adsorbent of Basic Blue 3 (BB3) removal. The main affecting parameters on adsorption such as concentration, pH and temperature were investigated. Adsorption equilibrium was reached in 30 min. The ultrasonic effect was also enhanced the dyestuff removal. Adsorption capacity was rised from 0.566 to 1.826 mg/g, as rising the concentration from 4 μg/mL to 10 μg/mL. Several isotherm models including Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were applied for explaining the adsorption mechanism. Temkin and Langmuir isotherm models describe the system well. Pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intra particle kinetics were evaluated. Pseudo second order diffusion model supports the adsoprption and also intra particle diffusion plays an important role for BB3 removal. Thermodynamics of the adsorption were commented. −2219.5 J/mol of Gibbs energy showed us a spontaneous and physical adsorption.

Adsorption of methylene blue dye from the aqueous solution via bio-adsorption in the inverse fluidized-bed adsorption column using the torrefied rice husk

In this work, the inverse fluidized-bed bio-adsorption column is applied for the first time and is demonstrated using the torrefied rice husk (TRH) for the removal of methylene blue from the solution. The bio-adsorbents were characterized by BET, FI-IR, and SEM. The inverse fluidized-bed adsorption column using TRH becomes saturated in the 95-min continuous adsorption, during which the breakthrough time is 22 min, the overall MB removal (R) is 84%, and the adsorption capacity (Q_exp) on the TRH is 6.82 mg g^-1. These adsorption characteristics are superior to those in the fixed-bed adsorption column (R of 52% and Q_exp of 2.76 mg g^-1) at a lower flow rate (100 vs. 283 cm³ min^-1). Torrefaction of RH significantly increases the surface area (28 vs. 9 m² g^-1) and enhances the surface functional groups, leading to an improved maximum equilibrium adsorption amount from 21.5 to 38.0 mg g^-1 according to Langmuir model in the batch adsorption system. Besides, the increased Q_exp on the TRH is also obtained in the inverse fluidized-bed (5.25 vs. 2.77 mg g^-1, 89% higher) and the fixed-bed (2.76 vs. 1.53 mg g^-1, 80% higher) adsorption columns compared to that on the RH.