Synthesis of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/zeolite composite for removal of methyl orange, Congo red and chromium(VI) by flocculation/adsorption

Magnetized cubic zinc MOFs for efficient removal of hazardous cationic and anionic dyes in aqueous solutions

A significant amount of dye runoff and aqueous waste are released from the manufacturing process of dyes with intense and permanent colors, which are undesirable from a cultural and ecological aspect. In this paper, we present a green, simple, low-effort, and energy-efficient method of creating magnetized cubic Zn-MOFs for the adsorption and elimination of various organic dyes. Magnetic iron oxide materials with a hierarchical structure were loaded and doped into cubic zinc metal-organic frameworks (MDLZ). High magnetic characteristics, chemical stability, minimal toxicity, and ease of removing various dyes from aqueous effluents are all exhibited by the developed MDLZ adsorbent. To assess MDLZ's capacity to adsorb organic dyes from an aqueous solution, organic dyes such as Crystal Violet (CV), Neutral Red (NR), and Congo Red (CR) were used as model materials. Many adsorption factors were examined, including temperature, pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Under optimal elimination circumstances, MDLZ was utilized to evaluate the kinetic, thermodynamic, and isotherm models for the adsorption of CR, NR, and CV dyes. The adsorption capacity (q m) of the MDLZ adsorbent at 25 °C was 39.37 mg g-1 for CV, 239.81 mg g-1 for CR, and 321.54 mg g-1 for NR, which is significantly higher than those of other adsorbents reported. The magnetized nanocubes' large surface area and uniform micropores enabled them to eliminate a large number of organic dyes from wastewater effectively, and their strong adsorption capability persisted even after four reuse cycles. The microporous MLDZ adsorbent offers a simple and effective method for handling industrial effluents and filtration of water.

Benign-by-design plant extract-mediated preparation of copper oxide nanoparticles for environmentally related applications

A facile, cost-competitive, scalable and novel synthetic approach is used to prepare copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) using Betel leaf (Piper betle) extracts as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents. CuO-NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), as well as photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The activity of CuO-NPs was investigated towards Congo red dye degradation, supercapacitor energy storage and antibacterial activity. A maximum of 89% photodegradation of Congo red dye (CR) was obtained. The nanoparticle modified electrode also exhibited a specific capacitance (Csp) of 179 Fg-1. Furthermore, the antibacterial potential of CuO NPs was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both strains displaying high antibacterial performance.

Design of chitosan/boehmite biocomposite for the removal of anionic and nonionic dyes from aqueous solutions: Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics studies

This study introduces a chitosan/boehmite biocomposite as an efficient adsorbent for removing anionic Congo Red (CR) and non-ionic Bromothymol Blue (BTB) from water. Boehmite nanoparticles were synthesized using the Sol-gel method and then attached to chitosan particles using sodium tripolyphosphate through co-precipitation method. Characterized through FTIR, FE-SEM, BET, and XRD, the biosorbent displayed structural integrity with optimized pH conditions of 3 for CR and 4 for BTB, achieving over 90 % adsorption within 30 min. Pseudo second order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm revealed monolayer sorption with capacities of 64.93 mg/g for CR and 90.90 mg/g for BTB. Thermodynamics indicated a spontaneous and exothermic process, with physisorption as the primary mechanism. The biosorbent demonstrated excellent performance and recyclability over five cycles, highlighting its potential for eco-friendly dye removal in contaminated waters.

Highly effective removal of multi-heavy metals from simulated industrial effluent through an adsorption process employing carboxymethyl-chitosan composites

Monochloroacetic acid precursor-based carboxymethyl chitosan resins were prepared using the chitosan with variant molecular weight. The carboxymethylation assured enhanced active sites on the resin surface, acidic media stability, and henceforth its appropriate constitution to facilitate enhanced multi-heavy metal adsorption-desorption and subsequent regeneration potential. Zn, Pb, and Fe multimetal adsorption properties were investigated. Thereby, kinetic and equilibrium models were sought for their fitness to represent heavy metal sorption data with the preferred complex adsorbate system. The adsorbate system complexity and its constituent co-existing cations significantly influence the sorption characteristics of the mentioned multi-heavy metal ions. The optimal adsorption capabilities for Zn, Pb, and Fe were 238.10 mg g-1, 4.78 mg g-1, and 147.06 mg g-1, respectively. Low-cost acid-base solutions were also considered for the effective regeneration of the resin even after three adsorption-desorption cycles. Prominent findings of the work assured excellent functionality of the carboxymethyl-chitosan resin for the simultaneous lead, iron, and zinc ion elimination from mimicking real-world effluent systems.

Chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol-diatomite hydrogel removes methylene blue from water

Dye pollution in the aquatic environment can harm ecosystems and human health. Here, we developed a new green adsorbent by applying an improved drying process. Diatomite was embedded in a network structure formed between chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol without using any crosslinking agent to prepare chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol-diatomite hydrogel beads through alkali solidification. The beads were tested for removing a cationic dye (methylene blue (MB)) from water. The structure of the adsorbent beads was analysed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity was investigated, and the results indicated excellent MB adsorption properties. The adsorbents had a rough surface and high swelling capacity of 66.9 g/g. The maximum MB adsorption capacity was 414.70 mg/g, and the adsorption followed the Freundlich isothermal and quasi-second-order kinetic models. The adsorption was an endothermic spontaneous process governed by both intra-particle and external diffusion processes. The proposed adsorption mechanisms involved hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. These adsorbent beads have considerable application potentials owing to their high adsorption capacity, green composition, and non-polluting nature.

Preparation of amphoteric double network hydrogels based on low methoxy pectin: Adsorption kinetics and removal of anionic and cationic dyes

The objective of this research was to devise a functional hydrogel was synthesized using pectin (PE), acrylic acid (AA), dimethyldiallyl ammonium chloride (DC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), designed to adsorb both cationic and anionic dyes concurrently. The low methoxy pectin formed double network hydrogel through chemical and physical crosslinking with AA and PVA respectively. DC is combined into the hydrogel system through copolymerization reaction. Analysis of hydrogel's physicochemical properties was conducted using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, texture analysis, thermogravimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. Dyes adsorption studies showed that the LP/AA/DC/PVA-2 hydrogel, prepared at the molar ratio of AA to DC of 1:2, exhibited higher adsorption efficiency for methylene blue (MB) and Congo red (CR). Kinetics and isotherms studies indicated that the adsorption behavior conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. By the Langmuir isotherm fitting, the maximum adsorption capacities of MB and CR by LP/AA/DC/PVA-2 were recorded to be 222.65 mg/g and 316.46 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption mechanism is dominated by the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Further, the adsorption and desorption experiments demonstrated that LP/AA/DC/PVA-2 hydrogel have excellent reusability.

Green synthesis of novel biochar from Abelmoschus esculentus seeds for direct blue 86 dye removal: Characterization, RSM optimization, isotherms, kinetics, and fixed bed column studies

The presence of Direct blue 86 dye (DB86) in water can lead to various health hazards to the humans and animals. The study explored efficacy of biochar derived from Abelmoschus Esculentus seeds (AESB) to remove DB86 from an aqueous solution. BET analysis of AESB delineated H4 classification with the predominance of micropores and mesopores spread throughout the surface. FTIR study demonstrated the presence of the alkyl (C-H), Alkene (C]C), Carbonyl (C]O) and O-H bond of the sulphonic group which helped in adsorption of DB86 molecules through various mechanisms i.e., pore filling, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding interactions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for designing the adsorption experiment and analysing the optimum operating parameters. Batch experiments demonstrated excellent adsorption capacity (277.04 mg/g) of AESB and was efficient in 98.06% removal of DB86 at optimal conditions i.e., dye conc. = 300 mg/L, dose = 2.5 g/L, pH = 2, time of 120 min. Adsorption followed nonlinear Sips model (R2 = 0.999) with an error (X2 = 0.13, RMSE = 0.83, MAPE 0.56 and MSRE = 0.0006). The kinetic analysis revealed intra-particle diffusion being the rate-determining step and followed nonlinear pseudo-first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.997). Thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of DB-86 proceeded spontaneously and exhibited endothermic characteristics, with the enthalpy change primarily governed by the physisorption mechanism. Thomas model revealed inverse relation of breakthrough and exhaustion time with flow while it was proportional to bed height. The sorption capacity (N0) (2.2493 mg/l min) and rate constant (Ka) (0.028 L/min. mg) of BDST model can accurately be used for predicting the performance of AESB in full scale column.

Impact of the Configurational Microstructure of Carboxylate-Rich Chitosan Beads on Its Adsorptive Removal of Diclofenac Potassium from Contaminated Water

A novel adsorbent-contaminant system was investigated for its ability to remove a contaminant of emerging concern, diclofenac potassium, from contaminated water. Bio-based crosslinked chitosan beads functionalized with poly(itaconic acid) side chains were examined for their potential to remove the emerging contaminant. To evaluate the impact of the polymeric microstructure on its adsorptive capacity, several adsorbent samples were prepared using different combinations of initiator and monomeric concentrations. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the crosslinking of the chitosan chains and the incorporation of the carboxylic groups on the surface of the final chitosan beads. After the grafting copolymerization process, an additional peak at 1726 cm-1 corresponding to the carboxylic C=O groups of the grafted chains appeared, indicating the successful preparation of poly(IA)-g-chitosan. Thermal stability studies showed that the grafting copolymerization improved the thermal stability of the beads. X-ray and Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the successful grafting of the itaconic acid on the surface of the beads. The study revealed that the higher the initiator concentration, the greater the number of side chains, whereas the higher the monomeric concentration, the longer the length of these side chains. The adsorption mechanism involved hydrogen bonding to the carboxylic groups of the grafted chains along with n-π* stacking interaction between the amino group of the chitosan and the aromatic rings of diclofenac potassium. The adsorption efficiencies of diclofenac potassium onto the grafted beads were significantly improved compared to the unfunctionalized chitosan beads, reaching values above 90%. The removal efficiency of grafted chitosan increased with an increase in the concentration in the range of 10-30 ppm and then flattened out in the range of 30-50 ppm. The removal efficiencies of 1-50 ppm of DCF ranged between about 75% and 92% for the grafted chitosan and 30-45% for the crosslinked chitosan. Rapid adsorption occurred within 20 min for all grafted sample combinations, and the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model with qe values ranging from 28 to 44.25 g/mg and R2 values greater than 0.9915. The results highlight the potential of grafted chitosan beads in removing emerging contaminants from contaminated water without harming the environment.

Efficiency and selectivity of cost-effective Zn-MOF for dye removal, kinetic and thermodynamic approach

Green synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has attracted a lot of attention as a crucial step for practical industrial applications. In this work, green synthesis of zinc(II) metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) has been carried out at room temperature. The Zn metal (node) was extracted from spent domestic batteries, and the linker was benzene di-carboxylic acid (BDC). The characterization of the as-prepared Zn-MOF was accomplished by PXRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, TGA, and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. All the characterization techniques strongly supported that as-synthesized Zn-MOF using metallic solid waste Zn is similar to that was reported in the literature. The as-prepared Zn-MOF was stable in water for 24 h without any changes in its functional groups and framework. The prepared Zn-MOF was tested for the adsorption of three dyes, two anionic dyes, aniline blue (AB), and orange II (O(II)) as well as methylene blue (MB), an example of cationic dye from aqueous solution. AB has the highest equilibrium adsorbed amount, qe, of value 55.34 mg g-1 at pH = 7 and 25 °C within 40 min. Investigation of the adsorption kinetics indicated that these adsorption processes could be described as a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, the adsorption process of the three dyes was described well by the Freundlich isotherm model. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the adsorption of AB on the prepared Zn-MOF was an endothermic and spontaneous process. In contrast, it was non-spontaneous and exothermic for the uptake of O(II) and MB. This study complements the business case development model of "solid waste to value-added MOFs."

Enhanced Adsorption Performance Cross-Linked Chitosan/Citrus reticulata Peel Waste Composites as Low-Cost and Green Bio-Adsorbents: Kinetic, Equilibrium Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies

This study revealed the synthesis of cross-linked chitosan/Citrus reticulata peel waste (C/CRPW) composites that could be used as low-cost and green bio-adsorbents for the removal of Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions. C/CRPW composites containing different amounts of Citrus reticulata peel waste (CRPW) and chitosan were prepared and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The composites were characterized by FESEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, BET, and zeta potential measurements. The C/CRPW composites as a new type of bio-adsorbents displayed superior adsorption capability toward anionic CR molecules, and the adsorption capacities increased with the incorporation of CRPW. Effects of different ambient conditions, such as contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial adsorbate concentration, and temperature, were fully studied. The conditions which obtained 43.57 mg/g of the highest adsorption capacity were conducted at pH 4 with an initial concentration of 100 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 2.0 g/L, and contact time of 24 h at 328 K. The adsorption data was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. According to the findings of this investigation, it was observed that the C/CRWP composites could be used as adsorbents due to their advantages, including the simple preparation process, being environmentally friendly, renewable, efficient, and low-cost.

The Defects, Physicochemical Properties, and Surface Charge of MIL-88A (Al) Crystal Were Regulated for Highly Efficient Removal of Anionic Dyes: Preparation, Characterization, and Adsorption Mechanism

In this paper, the physicochemical properties, surface charge, and crystal defects of MIL-88A (Al) were controlled by adjusting the ratio of metal ligands and temperature in the synthetic system without the addition of surfactants. The adsorption properties of different crystals for Congo red (CR) were studied. Among them, MIL-88A (Al)-130 and MIL-88A (Al)-d have the best adsorption properties. The maximum adsorption capacities are 600.8 and 1167 mg · g^-1, respectively. Compared with MIL-88A (Al)-130, the adsorption performance of MIL-88A (Al)-d was increased by 94.2%, and the adsorption rate was increased by about 4 times. It can be seen that increasing the proportion of metal ligands within a certain range will improve the adsorption capacity. The structure and morphology of the adsorbent were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, TGA, BET, and zeta potential. The effects of time, temperature, pH, initial solution concentration, and dosage on CR adsorption properties were systematically discussed. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isothermal model can well describe the adsorption process, which indicates that the adsorption process is a single-layer chemisorption occurring on a uniform surface. According to thermodynamics, this adsorption is an endothermic process. The mechanism of CR removal is proposed as the electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bond, metal coordination effect, π-π conjugation, crystal defect, and pore-filling effect. In addition, MIL-88A (Al)-d has good repeatability, indicating that it is a good material for treating anionic dye wastewater.

Experimental study on the treatment of dye wastewater by plasma coupled biotechnology

In this experiment, a gas-liquid two-phase discharge water treatment inverse device was designed independently to treat the actual workshop intermediate dye wastewater from a chemical plant. Firstly, the effects of initial concentration of wastewater, initial pH, circulation flow rate of solution, content of Fe²⁺, content of H₂O₂, and addition of tert-butanol on the organic removal rate and decolorization rate of dye wastewater treatment were investigated. The results showed that Fe²⁺ and tert-butanol would react with the active particles (H₂O₂, ·OH) and inhibit the degradation of the dye wastewater, resulting in the decrease of both organic matter degradation rate and decolorization rate. The experimentally degraded dye wastewater mainly contained benzoic acid and its derivatives in addition to dye molecules, thus the degradation mechanism of benzoic acid was mainly analyzed. Then, the actual dye wastewater treated by low-temperature plasma was combined with the traditional biological treatment technology. The biochemical properties of the wastewater treated by low-temperature plasma technology were greatly improved, and the B/C was increased from the initial 0.17 to 0.33. The effluent after the combined biological method could meet the effluent discharge standard, and the final CODcr reached 198 mg/L, BOD₅ reached 65 mg/L, and pH and chromaticity reached 6.39 and 50, respectively.

A Carbonized Zeolite/Chitosan Composite as an Adsorbent for Copper (II) and Chromium (VI) Removal from Water

To address Cu(II) and Cr(VI) water pollution, a carbonized zeolite/chitosan (C-ZLCH) composite adsorbent was produced via pyrolysis at 500 °C for two hours. C-ZLCH was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements. The batch experiments were performed by varying the initial pH, concentration, and contact time. The optimal pH values for Cu(II) and Cr(VI) were 8.1 and 9.6, respectively. The highest adsorption capacities for Cu(II) and Cr(VI) were 111.35 mg/g at 60 min and 104.75 mg/g at 90 min, respectively. The effects of chemicals such as sodium (Na⁺), glucose, ammonium (NH₄⁺), and acid red 88 (AR88) were also studied. Statistical analysis showed that sodium had no significant effect on Cu(II) removal, in contrast to Cr(VI) removal. However, there was a significant effect of the presence of glucose, ammonium, and AR88 on both Cu(II) and Cr(VI) removal. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were fitted using Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models for Cu(II) and Cr(VI), respectively.

Chromium-Modified Heterogeneous Bipolar Membrane: Structure, Characteristics, and Practical Application in Electrodialysis

The modification of an MB-2 bipolar ion exchange membrane with chromium (III) hydroxide was carried out by a chemical method, namely, by the sequential treatment of the membrane with a solution of chromium (III) salt and alkali. Data on the morphology, phase, and chemical composition of the modified membrane were obtained using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive analysis. In particular, it was shown that the modifier was distributed in a layer 30-50 microns thick at the boundary of the cation- and anion-exchange layers of the bipolar membrane. The electrochemical behavior of the modified membrane in the process of sodium sulfate conversion was studied by measurements of the following characteristics: the current efficiency of the acid and base, the energy consumption of the process, and the degree of contamination of the target products with salt ions. It was shown that the resulting membrane has an alkali and acid yield of 61% and 57%, respectively. This is higher than the same yields for the industrial unmodified MB-2 membrane (38% and 30%). The results of this study demonstrated that the modified samples allowed obtaining a higher yield of acid and base, reducing the content of salt ions in the target products and also reducing the electricity consumption for obtaining a unit of the target product. The concentration dependences of the electrical conductivity of the MK-40 heterogeneous ion-exchange membrane, which is a cation-exchange layer of MB-2, in sodium sulfate solutions before and after its modification with chromium (III) oxide were obtained. A decrease in the specific electrical conductivity of the membrane with the introduction of a modifier was established. A quantitative assessment of the influence of the modifier on the current flow, volume fraction, and spatial orientation of the conductive phases of MK-40 was carried out using an extended three-wire model for the description of the model parameters of ion-exchange materials. When a modifying additive was introduced into MK-40, the fraction of the current passing through the inner solution and the intergel phase decreased. This was due to the substitution of part of the free solution in the pore volume by the modifier. A variant of the practical application of electrodialysis with the chromium-modified bipolar ion-exchange membranes is recommended.

Advanced Polymeric Nanocomposite Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

Nanomaterials have been extensively used in polymer nanocomposite membranes due to the inclusion of unique features that enhance water and wastewater treatment performance. Compared to the pristine membranes, the incorporation of nanomodifiers not only improves membrane performance (water permeability, salt rejection, contaminant removal, selectivity), but also the intrinsic properties (hydrophilicity, porosity, antifouling properties, antimicrobial properties, mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability) of these membranes. This review focuses on applications of different types of nanomaterials: zero-dimensional (metal/metal oxide nanoparticles), one-dimensional (carbon nanotubes), two-dimensional (graphene and associated structures), and three-dimensional (zeolites and associated frameworks) nanomaterials combined with polymers towards novel polymeric nanocomposites for water and wastewater treatment applications. This review will show that combinations of nanomaterials and polymers impart enhanced features into the pristine membrane; however, the underlying issues associated with the modification processes and environmental impact of these membranes are less obvious. This review also highlights the utility of computational methods toward understanding the structural and functional properties of the membranes. Here, we highlight the fabrication methods, advantages, challenges, environmental impact, and future scope of these advanced polymeric nanocomposite membrane based systems for water and wastewater treatment applications.

Glutaraldehyde base-cross-linked chitosan-silanol/Fe3O4 composite for removal of heavy metals and bacteria

We designed and synthesised a magnetic adsorbent (Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu) combining chitosan-silanol groups with glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent, which has improved physicochemical properties and can be used to remove multiple heavy metals and bacteria from polluted water. The adsorbent was characterised with SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, VSM, and zeta potential. Under optimum conditions, the adsorption efficiencies of Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu for Cr⁶⁺, As⁵⁺, Hg²⁺, and Se⁶⁺ were as high as 90.5%, 73.5%, 91.6%, and 100% respectively. In addition, Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) can be removed after 2-4 adsorption cycles with 2.5 mg Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu. The main adsorption mechanism of the adsorbent for heavy metals and bacteria is electrostatic adsorption. Overall, the synthesised Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu adsorbent showed high removal efficiency and adsorption capacity with a stable structure and easy separation. It has promising applications for the removal of heavy metals and bacteria from water.

Chromium toxicity and its remediation by using endophytic bacteria and nanomaterials: A review

Chromium (Cr) is a crucial element for all life forms. Various anthropogenic activities have been responsible for environmental contamination with Cr (VI) in recent years. For this review, articles were collected using electronic databases such as Web of Science, Pubmed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar as per the guidelines of PRISMA-2015, applying the Boolean search methods. Chromium can cause severe health complications in humans and animals and threatens the surrounding environment, with negative impacts on crop yield, development, and quality. Hence, monitoring Cr contamination is essential, and various remediation technologies have emerged in the past 50 years to reduce the amount of Cr in the environment. This review focuses on chromium exposure and the associated environmental health risks. We also reviewed sustainable remediation processes, with emphasis on nanoparticle and endophytic remediation processes.

Mesoporous crosslinked chitosan-activated clinoptilolite biocomposite for the removal of anionic and cationic dyes

A mesoporous crosslinked chitosan-activated clinoptilolite biocomposite (CS-GA/ACP) was prepared with chitosan (CS) as the substrate and glutaraldehyde (GA) as the crosslinking agent. Structural analysis of the CS-GA/ACP composite beads was performed using FTIR, SEM, and BET techniques. The adsorption properties of the CS-GA/ACP for Congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) removal were examined using a batch method. The effects of CS loading, CS-GA/ACP dosages (0.005-0.25 g), pH values (3-11), initial concentrations (30-300 mg/L), contact time (5-120 min), ionic strength, and temperatures (25-65 ℃) on the adsorption of CR and MB on the CS-GA/ACP composite beads were investigated. The pseudo-second-order kinetics could better describe the adsorption process than the pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the Langmuir isotherms model agreed well with the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacities of the CS-GA/ACP for CR and MB were 180.59 mg/g and 143.67 mg/g at 25 ℃, respectively. The proposed mechanism studies showed that the possible interaction between the adsorbent and dye molecules were Yoshida H-bonding, dipole-dipole H-bonding, electrostatic interaction and n-π interaction. The CS-GA/ACP can be recycled to remove dyes without significant loss of efficacy, and the adsorption of dyes on the CS-GA/ACP is spontaneous endothermic adsorption. Overall, the CS-GA/ACP showed an excellent performance for dyes removal in aqueous solution and could be a practical candidate for industrial applications.

Characterization and biodegradation of ternary blends of lignosulfonate/synthetic zeolite/polyvinylpyrrolidone for agricultural chemistry

This study investigates novel ternary polymer blends based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the matrix in combination with lignosulfonate and synthetic zeolite. The blends were prepared by the casting method, and their properties were analysed by various techniques, i.e. FTIR analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, including tests for water solubility and uptake, and determination of adhesion and hardness. The biodegradation of the blends in soil was also evaluated, and an experiment was conducted on plant growth (Sinapis alba). Optical microscopy showed that particles of the synthetic zeolite were relatively evenly distributed in the polymer matrix, forming random networks therein. The FTIR spectra for the blends proved that hydrogen bonding interactions had occurred between the PVP/synthetic zeolite and PVP/lignosulfonate. DSC analysis confirmed the good miscibility of the PVP and lignosulfonate. TGA results indicated that the thermal stability of the PVP was maintained. Lignosulfonate had the effect of reducing the adhesion of the blends. However, it was revealed that effect depends greatly on the presence of zeolite and the concentration of lignosulfonate. The obtained results showed that the optimal composition of the blend is 2.5 wt% of zeolite and 5 wt% of lignosulfonate into the PVP. Its water solubility and uptake was satisfactory from the perspective of handling and further utilization. A respirometric biodegradation test confirmed that the ternary blend was environmentally friendly, in addition to which a germination experiment evidenced that the lignosulfonate and synthetic zeolite promoted the root growth and development of S. alba. From these findings it was concluded that the novel ternary polymer blend was applicable as either as seed carriers (in the form of seed tapes) or as a biocompatible coating to protect seeds.

Accumulation of chromium in plants and its repercussion in animals and humans

The untreated effluents released from industrial operations have adverse impacts on human health, environment and socio-economic aspects. Environmental pollution due to chromium is adversely affecting our natural resources and ecosystem. Chromium is hazardous carcinogenic element released from spontaneous activities and industrial procedures. Chromium toxicity, mobility and bioavailability depend mainly on its speciation. Chromium mainly exists in two forms, first as an immobile, less soluble trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] species under reducing conditions whereas hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] as a mobile, toxic and bioavailable species under oxidizing conditions. Hexavalent chromium is more pernicious in comparison to trivalent form. Chromium negatively affects crop growth, total yield and grain quality. Exposure of chromium even at low concentration enhances its accretion in cells of human-beings and animals which may show detrimental health effects. Many techniques have been utilized for the elimination of chromium. The selection of the green and cost-efficient technology for treatment of industrial effluent is an arduous task. The present review highlights the problems associated with chromium pollution and need of its immediate elimination by suitable remediation strategies. Further, investigations are required to fill the gaps to overcome the problem of chromium contamination and implementation of sustainable remediation strategies with their real-time applicability on the contaminated sites.

Recent advances in removal of Congo Red dye by adsorption using an industrial waste

The Congo Red dye was removed from a simulated textile wastewater solution using fly ash from a local power plant. The characterisation of fly ash was studied in detail by SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, BET surface area and TGA techniques. The influence of four parameters (contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, and temperature) was analysed, the results showing that the adsorption capacity depends on these parameters. Thermodynamic and regeneration investigations as well are presented. The fit to pseudo-second-order kinetics models suggests that the removal process is a chemical adsorption. The Langmuir model fitted the experimental data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 22.12 mg/g. The research is a preliminary case study that highlights that fly ash posed a very good potential as a material for Congo Red dye removal.

High-performance TFNC membrane with adsorption assisted for removal of Pb(II) and other contaminants

Rapid and thorough removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater is critical for the urgent need of clean water. Herein, we prepared a high-performance thin film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) membrane consisting of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-UiO-66-(COOH)₂ composite nanofibrous substrate (CPAN) and a calcium alginate (CaAlg) skin layer. Owing to abundant adsorption sites of UiO-66-(COOH)₂ MOF, the optimal CPAN-2 nanofibrous substrate showed excellent adsorption capacity for lead ions. The maximum Pb²⁺ adsorption capacity of CPAN-2 substrate calculated by Langmuir isotherm model was 254.5 mg/g. Meanwhile, due to the relatively loose structure of CaAlg skin layer, this TFNC membrane showed high water permeate flux about 50 L m^-2h^-1 at 0.1 MPa, and the rejection for dyes was higher than 95%. Therefore, CaAlg/CPAN TFNC membranes were appropriate for dynamic adsorption/filtration to remove Pb²⁺. Compared with original CaAlg/PAN membrane, the optimal CaAlg/CPAN TFNC membrane showed much better ability to treat Pb(II)-containing wastewater and had good recyclability. Most importantly, the CaAlg/CPAN TFNC membrane could treat 7659 L m^-2 wastewater containing single lead ions under WHO drinking water standard, and effectively deal with more simulated lead-containing wastewater. This work could provide a substitutable solution for effective removal of heavy metal ions and other various contaminants in wastewater.

Study on the Performance of Composite Adsorption of Cu2+ by Chitosan/β-Cyclodextrin Cross-Linked Zeolite

In order to remove Cu2+ from wastewater, a kind of microsphere adsorbent (SCDO) with high efficiency for Cu2+ adsorption was prepared by the microdrop condensation method, where chitosan (CTS) and sodium alginate (SA) were used as the matrix to crosslink β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and zeolite (Zeo). The structure and properties of SCDO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon that, the adsorption performance of SCDO for Cu2+ was studied, in which the effects of pH, initial concentration, dosage, adsorption time and temperature were investigated. The results showed that the removal rate of Cu2+ reached 97.08%, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 24.32 mg/g with the temperature at 30 °C, the dosage of SCDO at 12 g/L, the initial concentration of Cu2+ at 100 mg/L, the pH of the solution at 6.0 and the adsorption time at 120 min, respectively. The adsorption process of Cu2+ by SCDO occurred in accordance with quasi-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm. After four repeats of continuous adsorption and desorption, the regenerative removal rate of Cu2+ could still reach 84.28%, which indicated that SCDO had outstanding reusability.

Chitosan-assisted MOFs dispersion via covalent bonding interaction toward highly efficient removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered to be robust adsorbent for the removing heavy metal ions from wastewater due to their unique properties such as large active sites, high specific surface area and high porosity, etc., however, their practical engineering application faces the problem of serious agglomeration. In this work, a new strategy of chitosan (CS) assisting MOF dispersion was proposed to develop the new generation of MOF-based adsorbents, namely, CS grafted UiO-66-NH₂ composite materials (CGUNCM). The UiO-66-NH₂ was selected and it was grafted onto the main chains of CS through covalent bonding interaction with the aid of glutaraldehyde, which was totally different from the common method that grafting molecular chains on the surface of MOFs resulting in the dramatic reduction of active adsorption sites. The results show that grafting MOFs onto CS main chains not only greatly improves the dispersion of MOFs but also reserves the morphology of MOFs as much as possible. The adsorption performances toward Cu(II) and Pb(II) were intensively studied by varying adsorbate concentration, ionic strength, the contact time, adsorption temperature and pH value of solution. The results show that the composite adsorbent exhibits high adsorption efficiency and the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 45 min, and the maximum adsorption capacity toward Cu(II) and Pb(II) achieve 364.96 mg/g and 555.56 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, the composite adsorbent shows good reusability. This work provides a new method of fabricating the MOF-based adsorbent and paves the way for the practical application of such adsorbents in wastewater treatment.

Recent Progress on Nanomaterial-Based Membranes for Water Treatment

Nanomaterials have emerged as the new future generation materials for high-performance water treatment membranes with potential for solving the worldwide water pollution issue. The incorporation of nanomaterials in membranes increases water permeability, mechanical strength, separation efficiency, and reduces fouling of the membrane. Thus, the nanomaterials pave a new pathway for ultra-fast and extremely selective water purification membranes. Membrane enhancements after the inclusion of many nanomaterials, including nanoparticles (NPs), two-dimensional (2-D) layer materials, nanofibers, nanosheets, and other nanocomposite structural materials, are discussed in this review. Furthermore, the applications of these membranes with nanomaterials in water treatment applications, that are vast in number, are highlighted. The goal is to demonstrate the significance of nanomaterials in the membrane industry for water treatment applications. It was found that nanomaterials and nanotechnology offer great potential for the advancement of sustainable water and wastewater treatment.

Facile Synthesis of Cobalt Ferrite (CoFe2O4) Nanoparticles in the Presence of Sodium Bis (2-ethyl-hexyl) Sulfosuccinate and Their Application in Dyes Removal from Single and Binary Aqueous Solutions

A research study was conducted to establish the effect of the presence of sodium bis-2-ethyl-hexyl-sulfosuccinate (DOSS) surfactant on the size, shape, and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles, and also on their ability to remove anionic dyes from synthetic aqueous solutions. The effect of the molar ratio cobalt ferrite to surfactant (1:0.1; 1:0.25 and 1:0.5) on the physicochemical properties of the prepared cobalt ferrite particles was evaluated using different characterization techniques, such as FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis, and magnetic measurements. The results revealed that the surfactant has a significant impact on the textural and magnetic properties of CoFe₂O₄. The capacity of the synthesized CoFe₂O₄ samples to remove two anionic dyes, Congo Red (CR) and Methyl Orange (MO), by adsorption from aqueous solutions and the factors affecting the adsorption process, such as contact time, concentration of dyes in the initial solution, pH of the media, and the presence of a competing agent were investigated in batch experiments. Desorption experiments were performed to demonstrate the reusability of the adsorbents.

An Overview on Composite Sorbents Based on Polyelectrolytes Used in Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Advanced wastewater treatment processes are required to implement wastewater reuse in agriculture or industry, the efficient removal of targeted priority and emerging organic & inorganic pollutants being compulsory (due to their eco-toxicological and human health effects, bio-accumulative, and degradation characteristics). Various processes such as membrane separations, adsorption, advanced oxidation, filtration, disinfection may be used in combination with one or more conventional treatment stages, but technical and environmental criteria are important to assess their application. Natural and synthetic polyelectrolytes combined with some inorganic materials or other organic or inorganic polymers create new materials (composites) that are currently used in sorption of toxic pollutants. The recent developments on the synthesis and characterization of composites based on polyelectrolytes, divided according to their macroscopic shape-beads, core-shell, gels, nanofibers, membranes-are discussed, and a correlation of their actual structure and properties with the adsorption mechanisms and removal efficiencies of various pollutants in aqueous media (priority and emerging pollutants or other model pollutants) are presented.

Study on the Adsorption Performance of Casein/Graphene Oxide Aerogel for Methylene Blue

Casein (CS) and graphene oxide (GO) were employed for the fabrication of a casein/graphene oxide (CS/GO) aerogel by vacuum freeze drying. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface area and micropore analysis (BET), and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the specific surface area, structure, thermal stability, and morphology of the CS/GO aerogel. The influence of experimental parameters such as the GO mass fraction in the aerogel, metering of the adsorbent, pH, contact time, and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the CS/GO aerogel on methylene blue (MB) was also investigated. According to Langmuir isotherm determination, the maximum removal rate of MB from the CS/GO aerogel was 437.29 mg/g when the temperature was 293 K and pH was 8. Through kinetic and thermodynamic studies, it is found that adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order reaction model and is also an exothermic and spontaneous process.

Fly ash modified magnetic chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol blend for reactive orange 16 dye removal: Adsorption parametric optimization

A magnetic biocomposite blend of chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol/fly ash (m-Cs-PVA/FA) was developed by adding fly ash (FA) microparticles into the polymeric matrix of magnetic chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (m-Cs-PVA). The effectiveness of m-Cs-PVA/FA as an adsorbent to remove textile dye (reactive orange 16, RO16) from aquatic environment was evaluated. The optimum adsorption key parameters and their significant interactions were determined by Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates the significant interactions can be observed between m-Cs-PVA/FA dose with solution pH, and m-Cs-PVA/FA dose with working temperature. Considering these significant interactions, the highest removal of RO16 (%) was found 90.3% at m-Cs-PVA/FA dose (0.06 g), solution pH (4), working temperature (30 °C), and contact time (17.5 min). The results of adsorption kinetics revealed that the RO16 adsorption was better described by the pseudo-second-order model. The results of adsorption isotherm indicated a multilayer adsorption process as well described by Freundlich model with maximum adsorption capacity of 123.8 mg/g at 30 °C. An external magnetic field can be easily applied to recover the adsorbent (m-Cs-PVA/FA). The results supported that the synthesized m-Cs-PVA/FA presents itself as an effective and promising adsorbent for textile dye with preferable adsorption capacity and separation ability during and after the adsorption process.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan/polyacrylamide hydrogel grafted poly(N-methylaniline) for methyl red removal

Chitosan/polyacrylamide hydrogel grafted poly(N-methylaniline) (CS/PACM-gr-PNMA) was good synthesized by chemical oxidative radical polymerization using potassium persulphate (KPS). The obtained polymer samples are characterized using IR and Uv-visible spectroscopy. Both surface properties and thermal stability were studied using XRD, SEM, BET and TGA techniques respectively. The characterized polymeric samples were used as a new sorbent for methyl red (MR). MR as an example of azo-dyes presence as pollutants in industrial wastewater which cause physiological damages was chosen to uptake. The influence of contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature on the efficiency of CS/PACM-gr-PNMA towards the removal of MR was investigated. The efficacy was equal to 98% through 120 min at room temperature. The obtained data show that, ∆H = -21.478 kJ mol^-1, so adsorption process is physically spontaneous and follow Freundlich isotherm. The sorption process of MR on the surface of CS/PACM-gr-PNMA is proceed via the Lagergren pseudo-second order reaction. This confirms the removal mechanism by both chemical and physical adsorption of MR with both unpaired and π electrons present in polymer structure on NH, NH_2, and benzene or quinoid units respectively. In addition, it can explain the chemical adsorption type which occurs through sharing between the used adsorbent materials and the dissolved materials beside the physical adsorption.

Tailoring Chitosan/LTA Zeolite Hybrid Aerogels for Anionic and Cationic Dye Adsorption

Chitosan (CS) is largely employed in environmental applications as an adsorbent of anionic dyes, due to the presence in its chemical structure of amine groups that, if protonated, act as adsorbing sites for negatively charged molecules. Efficient adsorption of both cationic and anionic dyes is thus not achievable with a pristine chitosan adsorbent, but it requires the combination of two or more components. Here, we show that simultaneous adsorption of cationic and anionic dyes can be obtained by embedding Linde Type A (LTA) zeolite particles in a crosslinked CS-based aerogel. In order to optimize dye removal ability of the hybrid aerogel, we target the crosslinker concentration so that crosslinking is mainly activated during the thermal treatment after the fast freezing of the CS/LTA mixture. The adsorption of isotherms is obtained for different CS/LTA weight ratios and for different types of anionic and cationic dyes. Irrespective of the formulation, the Langmuir model was found to accurately describe the adsorption isotherms. The optimal tradeoff in the adsorption behavior was obtained with the CS/LTA aerogel (1:1 weight ratio), for which the maximum uptake of indigo carmine (anionic dye) and rhodamine 6G (cationic dye) is 103 and 43 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The behavior observed for the adsorption capacity and energy cannot be rationalized as a pure superposition of the two components, but suggests that reciprocal steric effects, chemical heterogeneity, and molecular interactions between CS and LTA zeolite particles play an important role.

Adsorption of Methyl Orange from Aqueous Solution Using PVOH Composite Films Cross-Linked by Glutaraldehyde and Reinforced with Modified α-MnO2

A poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) composite cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GL) containing α-MnO₂ modified with stearic acid (ST) was fabricated as an efficient sorbent for capturing methyl orange (MO) dye from the water system. We investigated the factors affecting MO adsorption in detail. The adsorption process showed a high dependence on the pH value. The highest removal efficiency (96.5%) was obtained at pH 2. The adsorption isotherm study indicated that the linear Freundlich isotherm was a more appropriate model for the adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics study revealed that the adsorption data matched with a nonlinear pseudo-first-order model. Physical adsorption interactions, including electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and dipole-dipole forces, play dominant roles in this process. Thermodynamic investigations confirmed that MO adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic with physical interactions. The outcomes demonstrated that the cross-linked PVOH-GL/α-MnO₂-ST composite could be a hopeful sorbent for the efficient uptake of MO molecules from polluted waters.

Chromium contamination and effect on environmental health and its remediation: A sustainable approaches

Chromium (Cr) is a trace element critical to human health and well-being. In the last few decades, its contamination, especially hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] form in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, has amplified as a result of various anthropogenic activities. Chromium pollution is a significant environmental threat, severely impacting our environment and natural resources, especially water and soil. Excessive exposure could lead to higher levels of accumulation in human and animal tissues, leading to toxic and detrimental health effects. Several studies have shown that chromium is a toxic element that negatively affects plant metabolic activities, hampering crop growth and yield and reducing vegetable and grain quality. Thus, it must be monitored in water, soil, and crop production system. Various useful and practical remediation technologies have been emerging in regulating chromium in water, soil, and other resources. A sustainable remediation approach must be adopted to balance the environment and nature.

A carbon membrane-mediated CdSe and TiO2 nanofiber film for enhanced photoelectrochemical degradation of methylene blue

In this study, a carbon membrane-mediated CdSe and TiO₂ ternary film (CdSe/C/TiO₂) was prepared to degrade methylene blue (MB). Carbon membrane and CdSe were introduced to the surface of a TiO₂ nanofiber film via an in situ hydrothermal deposition process successively. The investigation shows that the carbon membrane not only provides a charge transfer channel to promote the transfer of electron from the conduction band of CdSe to that of TiO₂, but also improves the poor conduct between the TiO₂ film and electrolyte. The synergies between the carbon membrane and CdSe can make the ternary system harvest more visible light energy and facilitate the charge transfer property of TiO₂. The current density of CdSe/C/TiO₂ was about 9 folds higher compared with that of pure TiO₂ under UV and visible light irradiations. This ternary hybrid exhibits a superior activity during the photoelectrochemical (PEC) degradation of MB, and 92.43% can be removed after 120 min irradiation, which is improved by 21.14% than that of TiO₂.

A CdSe/C/TiO₂ nanofiber film was prepared for enhanced photoelectrochemical degradation ability, and carbon membrane as a carrier-transfer-channel could promote electron transfer.