Removal of anionic and cationic dyes with bioadsorbent oxidized chitosans

Liquid metal-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads as novel adsorbents for malachite green removal

Malachite green (MG) is widely used in aquaculture as a parasiticide. It has generated much concern due to its carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, chromosomal fractures, teratogenicity, and respiratory toxicity. Effective methods for removing MG from water or other media are highly needed. Here, liquid metal (LM) is embedded into the magnetic hydrogel to create magnetic LM hydrogel beads with high adsorption capacity. The morphology and physical properties of the LM-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and texture analysis methods. The adsorption efficiency of malachite green was assessed using spectrophotometric analysis at a wavelength of 623 nm. The hardness of these hydrogel beads reached a maximum of 4610 g, and its adsorption capacity reached 10 mg/g. Under the optimal condition, 0.05 %wt LM embedded magnetic hydrogel could remove 100 % of MG. This highly efficient magnetic adsorbent for dye removal has considerable potential for rapidly separating toxic contaminants from aquatic animal tissues, providing a cost-effective and straightforward solution to reduce dye pollution in aquatic environments and food products.

Efficient and Stable Extraction of Nano-Sized Plastic Particles Enabled by Bio-inspired Magnetic "Robots" in Water

In this research, a rationally-designed strategy was employed to address the crucial issue of removing nano-plastics (NPs) from aquatic environments, which was based on fabricating sea urchin-like structures of Fe3O4 magnetic robots (MagRobots). Through imitating the sea urchin's telescopic tube foot movement and predation mechanism, the unique structures of the MagRobots were designed to adapt to the size and surface interactions of NPs, leading to a high efficiency of NPs removal (99%), as evidenced by the superior performance of 594.3 mg/g for the removal of polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles from water, with 3300% increase over magnetic Fe3O4 without structural design. The adsorption process was further analyzed using density functional theory (DFT) models and adsorption experiments, indicating that it was driven by electrostatic interactions. MagRobots maintained an adsorption capacity of up to 328 mg/g over four cyclic experiments and demonstrated high-capacity adsorption (close to 400 mg/g) in natural water bodies. The results of the simulations were supported by experiments that verified the excellent adsorption performance, regeneration effect, and environmental stability of the MagRobots under both simulated and real-world water conditions. This ingenious structural strategy provided valuable perspectives for the development of efficient magnetic porous materials for wastewater treatment, which would have potential applications for the treatment of NPs in real aquatic ecosystems. The unique sea urchin-like structures of the MagRobots could offer an innovative approach to tackle the challenge of NPs removal.

Adsorption properties of methylene blue and Cu(II) on magnetically oxidized tannic acid cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan gels

In this work, tannic acid was selected as a green cross-linking agent to cross-link carboxymethyl chitosan to prepare a magnetic adsorbent (CC-OTA@Fe3O4), which was used to remove methylene blue (MB) and Cu2+. CC-OTA@Fe3O4 was characterized by FTIR, 13C NMR, XRD, VSM, TGA, BET and SEM. The adsorption behavior was studied using various parameters such as pH value, contact time, initial concentration of MB and Cu2+, and temperature. The results showed that adsorption of MB and Cu2+ followed the pseudo-second-order model and the Sips model. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined to be 560.92 and 104.25 mg/g MB and Cu2+ at 298 K, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. According to the results of FTIR and XPS analyses, the electrostatic interaction was accompanied by π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding for MB adsorption, while complexation and electrostatic interaction were the predominant mechanism for Cu2+ adsorption. Furthermore, CC-OTA@Fe3O4 displayed remarkable stability in 0.1 M HNO3, exhibited promising recyclability, and could be easily separated from aqueous solutions in the magnetic field. This study demonstrates the potential of CC-OTA@Fe3O4 as an adsorbent for the removal of cationic dyes and heavy metals from wastewater.

Effective Removal of Dyes from Wastewater by Osmanthus Fragrans Biomass Charcoal

The exploration of low-cost, high-performance adsorbents is a popular research issue. In this work, a straightforward method that combined hydrothermal with tube firing was used to produce Osmanthus fragrans biomass charcoal (OBC) from low-cost osmanthus for dye adsorption in water. The study examined the parameters of starting concentration, pH, and duration, which impacted the process of adsorption of different dyes by OBC. The analysis showed that the adsorption capacities of OBC for six dyes: malachite green (MG, C0 = 800 mg/L, pH = 7), Congo red (CR, C0 = 1000 mg/L, pH = 8), rhodamine B (RhB, C0 = 500 mg/L, pH = 6), methyl orange (MO, C0 = 1000 mg/L, pH = 7), methylene blue (MB, C0 = 700 mg/L, pH = 8), and crystalline violet (CV, C0 = 500 mg/L, pH = 7) were 6501.09, 2870.30, 554.93, 6277.72, 626.50, and 3539.34 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm model were compatible with the experimental findings, which suggested the dominance of ion exchange and chemisorption. The materials were characterized by using XRD, SEM, FTIR, BET, and XPS, and the results showed that OBC had an outstanding specific surface area (2063 m2·g-1), with potential adsorption mechanisms that included electrostatic mechanisms, hydrogen bonding, and π-π adsorption. The fact that the adsorption capacity did not drastically decrease after five cycles of adsorption and desorption suggests that OBC has the potential to be a dye adsorbent.

Novel Adsorbent Material from Plinia cauliflora for Removal of Cationic Dye from Aqueous Solution

The food industry is responsible for the generation of large amounts of organic residues, which can lead to negative environmental and economic impacts when incorrectly disposed of. The jaboticaba peel is an example of organic waste, widely used in industry due to its organoleptic characteristcs. In this study, residues collected during the extraction of bioactive compounds from jaboticaba bark (JB) were chemically activated with H₃PO₄ and NaOH and used to develop a low-cost adsorbent material for the removal of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB). For all adsorbents, the batch tests were carried out with the adsorbent dosage of 0.5 g L^-1 and neutral pH, previously determined by 2² factorial design. In the kinetics tests, JB and JB-NaOH presented a fast adsorption rate, reaching equilibrium in 30 min. For JB-H₃PO₄, the equilibrium was reached in 60 min. JB equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir model and JB-NaOH and JB-H₃PO₄ data by the Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacities from JB, JB-NaOH, and JB-H₃PO₄ were 305.81 mg g^-1, 241.10 mg g^-1, and 122.72 mg g^-1, respectively. The results indicate that chemical activations promoted an increase in the volume of large pores but interacted with functional groups responsible for MB adsorption. Therefore, JB has the highest adsorption capacity, thus presenting as a low-cost and sustainable alternative to add value to the product, and it also contributes to water decontamination studies, resulting in a zero-waste approach.

Adsorption Studies on the Removal of Anionic and Cationic Dyes from Aqueous Solutions Using Discarded Masks and Lignin

The carbon materials derived from discarded masks and lignin are used as adsorbent to remove two types of reactive dyes present in textile wastewater: anionic and cationic. This paper introduces the results of batch experiments where Congo red (CR) and Malachite green (MG) are removed from wastewater onto the carbon material. The relationship between adsorption time, initial concentration, temperature and pH value of reactive dyes was investigated by batch experiments. It is discovered that pH 5.0-7.0 leads to the maximum effectiveness of CR and MG removal. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of CR and MG are found to be 232.02 and 352.11 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption processes of CR and MG are consistent with the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models, respectively. The thermodynamic processing of the adsorption data reveals the exothermic properties of the adsorption of both dyes. The results show that the dye uptake processes follow secondary kinetics. The primary adsorption mechanisms of MG and CR dyes on sulfonated discarded masks and alkaline lignin (DMAL) include pore filling, electrostatic attraction, π-π interactions and the synergistic interactions between the sulphate and the dyes. The synthesized DMAL with high adsorption efficiency is promising as an effective recyclable adsorbent for adsorbing dyes, especially MG dyes, from wastewater.

Adsorption profile of anionic and cationic dyes through Fe3O4 embedded oxidized Sterculia gum/Gelatin hybrid gel matrix

Hazardous effluents from textile industries being major contributors of water pollution and impose potential adverse effects on environment. In present study, Fe₃O₄ embedded oxidized Sterculia gum/Gelatin hybrid matrix have been fabricated and evaluated for enrichment of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). Newly synthesized matrix was characterized through powdered XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM and TGA. Integrated nanoparticles improved dye enrichment and facilitated removal of matrix from the aqueous solution under the influence of magnetic field. Influence of various reaction parameters viz.: contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, temperature & pH of the adsorption medium on dye enrichment have been evaluated. Maximum adsorption (90 % and 88 % for MO and MB respectively) has been achieved. Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin adsorption isotherms have been evaluated. Experimental results validate well fitted Freundlich isotherm for MO and Temkin isotherm for MB. Adsorption kinetics has been analyzed through Pseudo first order, second order kinetic and intra particle diffusion models. Adsorption of both dyes was best explained via pseudo second order kinetic model. Negative value of Gibb's free energy change (-26.487 KJ mol ^-1 and - 24.262 KJ mol ^-1) for MB and MO at 303 K was an indication of spontaneity of the reaction.

Experiments about the removal of supersaturated total dissolved gas from water environment by activated carbon adsorption

Water environment conditions directly support aquatic life. It is important to maintain a suitable water environment to improve the efficient use of water resources. Supersaturation of total dissolved gas (TDG) in the water will cause fish suffer from gas bubble disease and even mortalities. Measures should be taken to mitigate the adverse effect of supersaturated TDG. Considering the adsorption effect of porous medium, activated carbon (AC) was utilized in this experiment to explore the effect of AC on supersaturated TDG removal. The effects of AC properties, AC dosage, and initial TDG saturation were investigated. The results showed that adding AC in the water could effectively accelerate the supersaturated TDG removal rate, which was positively correlated with the AC specific surface area and dosage. Meanwhile, the average dissipation rate of TDG increased and then decreased with increasing initial TDG saturation. The adsorption characteristics of AC on supersaturated TDG were also explored. The maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity and removal rate were 0.262 mg/g and 48.5% respectively. It was concluded that the adsorption process of AC on supersaturated TDG conformed to the Langmuir equation and pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Recycling test indicated that the used AC could be reused after drying. It was hoped that this research could contribute to improving water environment and ensuring the healthy development of the aquatic livings.

Removal of Organic Pollutants with Polylactic Acid-Based Nanofiber Composites

In the process of using nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic treatment of organic polluted liquid, the easy aggregation and recycling difficulty of nano-TiO2 particles are important problems that cannot be avoided. Anchoring nano-TiO2 to the substrate not only limits the aggregation of nano-TiO2, but also facilitates the easy removal and reuse of nano-TiO2 after processing. Herein, coaxial electrospun nanofibrous (NFs) made of L-polylactic acid (PLLA) and chitosan (CS) are coated with graphene oxide (GO) and TiO2 for the enhanced oxidation of organic pollutants. The adsorption and photocatalysis experiment results show that, for methyl orange (MO) dye solution, the saturated removal of MO by PLLA/CS, PLLA/CS-GO and PLLA/CS-GO/TiO2 nanofibers are 60.09 mg/g, 78.25 mg/g and 153.22 mg/g, respectively; for the Congo red (CR) dye solution, the saturated removal of CR by PLLA/CS, PLLA/CS-GO and PLLA/CS-GO/TiO2 nanofiber materials were 138.01 mg/g, 150.22 mg/g and 795.44 mg/g, respectively. These three composite nanofiber membrane materials can maintain more than 80% of their adsorption capacity after four repeated cycles. They are environmentally friendly and efficient organic pollution remediation materials with promising application.

Preparation and Photodegradation Properties of Carbon-Nanofiber-Based Catalysts

In this study, an iron oxide/carbon nanofibers (Fe2O3/CNFs) composite was prepared by a combination of electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. The characterization of Fe2O3/CNFs was achieved via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is shown that when the hydrothermal reaction time was 180 °C and the reaction time was 1 h, the Fe2O3 nanoparticle size was about 90 nm with uniform distribution. The photodegradation performance applied to decolorize methyl orange (MO) was investigated by forming a heterogeneous Fenton catalytic system with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction conditions for the degradation of MO were optimized with the decolorization rate up to more than 99% within 1 h, which can decompose the dyes in water effectively. The degradation process of MO by Fenton oxidation was analyzed by a UV-visible NIR spectrophotometer, and the reaction mechanism was speculated as well.

Pollution Removal Performance of Chemically Functionalized Textile Waste Biochar Anchored Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Adsorbent

Preparation of adsorbent materials in powder and polymeric composite form was achieved by controlled carbonization of ZnCl2 pretreated textile waste at low temperatures. Structural and surface properties of carbonized textile waste samples (CTW) and polymeric composites were prepared by the addition of CTW to PVDF-DMF solution at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mass% ratios analyzed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and BET analysis. Adsorption performances of powder and composite adsorbents were investigated for MO dye removal from an aqueous solution. Zn-CTW obtained with carbonization of ZnCl2 treated textile waste at 350 °C presented 117.5 mg/g MO removal. Those were higher than CTW-350 and CTW-400. The presence of 1545 cm-1 band at the IR spectrum of Zn-CTW proved the formation of functional groups that increase dye adsorption performance with honeycomb-like pores on the surface. Zn-CTW reflected its properties onto the PVDF matrix. Improved porosity percentage, BET surface, and dye adsorption of Pz20 were recorded as 105.3, 15.22 m2/g, and 41 mg/g, respectively, compared with bare PVDF. Disposal of textile waste and preparation of functional activated carbon were achieved in a low-cost and easy way. Zn-CTW loaded PVDF composites are promising materials to use as a dye removal adsorbent from water or filtration membranes.

Coral-inspired environmental durability aerogels for micron-size plastic particles removal in the aquatic environment

Removing microplastics (MPs) from water has been a huge challenge due to their inherent features including small size and high stability. In this research, inspired by the active adsorption and passive adhesion mechanisms of corals to MPs, a new strategy to fabricate polydopamine enhanced magnetic chitosan (PDA-MCS) aerogels was developed with a target to match the surface properties of MPs, achieving high MPs removal efficiency. PDA-MCS aerogels were highly efficient in adsorbing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics in water at pH values of 6-9, with a removal efficiency of up to 91.6%. Even after three recycles, PDA-MCS aerogels still displayed comparatively high removal efficiency (83.4%). Kinetic and isothermal experiments showed that the adsorption process was the result of electrostatic interactions and physical adhesion between aerogels and microplastics. Moreover, PDA-MCS aerogels maintained high removal efficiency under simulated environmental conditions, and the removal efficiency of PET, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics in waters reached 97.3%, 94.6%, and 92.3%, respectively. Therefore, high-efficiency environmentally durable aerogels adsorbent materials have the potential for the removal of MPs from the aquatic environment.

Apple-like Zinc-Oxide Mesocrystals as Robust and Versatile Photocatalysts for Efficient Degradation of Eight Different Organic Dyes

The discovery of efficient photocatalysts is a promising key approach to solve the environmental crisis caused by hazardous organic dyes. Herein, we have for the first time created ZnO mesocrystals with a novel apple-like morphology. We have developed a one-pot biomineralization route to synthesize ZnO nanostructures at room temperature by using the rod-like protein collagen as the template. The shape of ZnO mesocrystals can be conveniently tuned from fusiform-like and kiwi-like to orange-like, apple-like, and snack-like structures. The apple-like ZnO mesocrystals show a significantly better photodegradation efficiency than the commercial ZnO powder as well as other nanostructured ZnO materials for both rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO). Furthermore, the apple-like zinc-oxide mesocrystals can degrade all of the tested eight different types of organic dyes (RhB, rhodamine 6G, methylene blue, Coomassie brilliant blue R250, BPB, MO, Li Chunhong S, and carmine) simply under the exposure of sunlight, demonstrating their superior photodegradation prowess, environmental amiability, and energy-saving features. The novel robust and versatile photocatalyst has greatly advanced our abilities for the elimination of organic dyes. The green, one-pot strategy provides a convenient method for the construction of novel metal-oxide nanostructures with promising applications in environmental protection.

Synthesis of green magnetic biopolymer derived from Oak fruit hull tannin for efficient simultaneous adsorption of a mixture of Malachite Green and Sunset Yellow dyes from aqueous solutions

In the present study, a new bioadsorbent with polyhydroxyphenyl groups was synthesized as a tannin-based magnetic porous organic polymer by using from internal layer of Oak fruit hull (Oak Gal)...

A Study on Machine Learning Methods' Application for Dye Adsorption Prediction onto Agricultural Waste Activated Carbon

The adsorption of dyes using 39 adsorbents (16 kinds of agro-wastes) were modeled using random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and gradient boosting (GB) models based on 350 sets of adsorption experimental data. In addition, the correlation between variables and their importance was applied. After comprehensive feature selection analysis, five important variables were selected from nine variables. The RF with the highest accuracy (R² = 0.9) was selected as the best model for prediction of adsorption capacity of agro-waste using the five selected variables. The results suggested that agro-waste characteristics (pore volume, surface area, agro-waste pH, and particle size) accounted for 50.7% contribution for adsorption efficiency. The pore volume and surface area are the most important influencing variables among the agro-waste characteristics, while the role of particle size was inconspicuous. The accurate ability of the developed models’ prediction could significantly reduce experimental screening efforts, such as predicting the dye removal efficiency of agro-waste activated carbon according to agro-waste characteristics. The relative importance of variables could provide a right direction for better treatments of dyes in the real wastewater.

Advanced graphene oxide-based membranes as a potential alternative for dyes removal: A review

Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most well-known graphene derivatives which, due to its outstanding chemical, electrical and optical properties as well as its high oxygen content, has been recently applied in several fields such as in the construction of sensors, as antimicrobial agent for biomedical applications, as well as nanofiller material for membranes applied in wastewater treatment. In this last-mentioned field, the synthesis and functionalization of membranes with GO has proven to improve the performance of membranes applied in the treatment of wastewater containing dyes, regarding antifouling behavior, selectivity and flux. In this review, an overview of water pollution caused by effluents containing synthetic dyes, the advantages and limitations of GO-based membranes and the latest research advances on the use of GO-based membranes for dyes removal, including its impact on membrane performance, are discussed in detail. The future panorama of the applicability of GO-based membranes for the treatment of water contaminated by dyes is also provided.

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.

Preparation of Ca/Al-Layered Double Hydroxides/Biochar Composite with High Adsorption Capacity and Selectivity toward Cationic Dyes in Aqueous

Widely reports have evaluated the use of biochar (BC) composites to layered double hydroxide (LDH) to adsorb dyes from wastewater. However, its applicability for adsorbing a mixture of cationic dyes such as Malachite green (MG), Rodhamine-B (Rh-B), and Methylene blue (MB), which causes carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on aquatic life, has not been studied. In this work, we compared the performance of CaAl-LDH/BC adsorbent with or without the addition of BC in the adsorption of cationic dyes. The adsorption study was prepared in a batch system using various temperatures, concentrations, and also contact time. The results of the characterization of Ca/Al-Biochar composite showed the unique diffraction of XRD pattern, and also showed two characteristics of starting materials. Surface area analysis by BET method showed Ca/Al-Biochar composite has a higher surface area than starting material. The results of the adsorption study of MG showed that Ca/Al-Biochar follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity of MG on Ca/Al-Biochar was up to 71.429 mg/g and shows selectivity toward MG in an aqueous solution. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). 

Experimental and theoretical study of dyes adsorption process on chitosan-based cryogel

In this research, the adsorption of three synthetic dyes dissolved in an aqueous solution on chitosan cryogel beads (Q-C-EGDE) was compared. The effect of the pH of the solution on the adsorption capacity of each dyes was analyzed. Furthermore, the kinetics and adsorption isotherms were compared, at temperatures of 283.15 K, 303.15 K and 323.15 K, and the kinetic and adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to three mathematical models, respectively. The biosorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the nitrogen physisorption BET method and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization results show that the cryogel is composed of low-surface, macroporous, porous grooved walls. The functional groups that took part in the adsorption were mainly amino groups (NH₃⁺). When comparing the adsorption capacities, it was found that the dyes adsorb in the following order Blue 1 > Red 2 > Yellow 5 reaching capacities from 1600 mg/L to 850 mg/L. The results of the adsorption and mathematical modelling suggest that the process is regulated mainly by physisorption and is largely limited by mass transfer mechanisms within the cryogel, where the electrostatic charges present affect adsorption. The latter was corroborated by the Monte Carlo simulation.

The Application of Modified Natural Polymers in Toxicant Dye Compounds Wastewater: A Review

The utilization of various types of natural and modified polymers for removing toxicant dyes in wastewater generated by the dye industry is reviewed in this article. Dye wastewater contains large amounts of metals, surfactants, and organic matter, which have adverse effects on human health, potentially causing skin diseases and respiratory problems. The removal of dyes from wastewaters through chemical and physical processes has been addressed by many researchers. Currently, the use of natural and modified polymers for the removal of dyes from wastewater is becoming more common. Although modified polymers are preferred for the removal of dyes, due to their biodegradability and non-toxic nature, large amounts of polymers are required, resulting in higher costs. Surface-modified polymers are more effective for the removal of dyes from the wastewater. A survey of 80 recently published papers demonstrates that modified polymers have outstanding dye removal capabilities, and thus have a high applicability in industrial wastewater treatment.

Microwave assist sorption of crystal violet and Congo red dyes onto amphoteric sorbent based on upcycled Sepia shells

A new sorbent based on Sepia shells (cuttlefish bones) has been synthesized (SSBC) and tested for the sorption of cationic dye (crystal violet, CV) and an anionic dye (congo red, CR). SSBC was produced by reaction of sepia shells powder with urea in the presence of formaldehyde. In the first part of the work, the sorbent was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier-transform infra-red spectrometry and titration (for determining pH_PZC). In a second step, sorption properties were tested on the two dyes through the study of pH effect, sorbent dosage, temperature and ionic strength; the sorption isotherms and uptake kinetics were analyzed at the optimum pH: Langmuir equation fits isotherm profiles while the kinetic profile can be described by the pseudo-second order rate equation. Maximum sorption capacities reach up to 0.536 mmol g^-1 for CV and 0.359 mmol g^-1 for CR, at pH 10.6 and 2.4, respectively. The comparison of sorption properties at different temperatures shows that the sorption is endothermic. Processing to the sorption under microwave irradiation (microwaved enforced sorption, MES) increases mass transfer and a contact time as low as 1 min is sufficient under optimized conditions (exposure time and power) reaching the equilibrium, while 2-3 h were necessary for "simple" sorption. Dye desorption was successfully tested using 0.5 M solutions of NaOH and HCl for the removal of CR and CV, respectively. The sorbent can be re-used for a minimum of four cycles of sorption/desorption. Finally, the sorbent was successfully tested on spiked tap water and real industrial wastewater.

Application of magnetic coagulant based on fractionated protein of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds for aqueous solutions treatment containing synthetic dyes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of a new magnetic coagulant, obtained from Moringa oleifera seeds protein functionalized with iron oxide nanoparticles to remove four anionic synthetic dyes with coagulation/flocculation assays followed by magnetic sedimentation. The results showed that the presence of a magnetic field during sedimentation considerably accelerates the separation and increases the dye removal efficiency. Amaranth dye removal increased from 45 to 86% and Sunset Yellow from 15 to 69% with the presence of magnetic field, while Reactive Black 5 and Brilliant Blue reached 94% and 52% removal, respectively. For AM and SY dyes, the best protein concentration is 150 mg L^-1, for RB5 dye is 115 mg L^-1, and for BB dye is 75 mg L^-1. The sedimentation time decreased from 30 to 5 min with magnetic sedimentation. The residual value of AM dye decreased from 10.76 mg L^-1 to approximately 2.71 mg L^-1, and with SY the residual concentration decreased from approximately 16.79 mg L^-1 to 6.36 mg L^-1. The removal of BB and RB5 dyes reached an approximate final value of 48.2 mg L^-1 (52%) and 1.18 mg L^-1 (94%).

A review on exploration of Fe2O3 photocatalyst towards degradation of dyes and organic contaminants

Photocatalytic degradation is among the promising technology for removal of various dyes and organic contaminants from environment owing to its excellent catalytic activity, low energy utilization, and low cost. As one of potential photocatalysts, Fe₂O₃ has emerged as an important material for degradation of numerous dyes and organic contaminants caused by its tolerable band gap, wide harvesting of visible light, good stability and recyclability. The present review thoroughly summarized the classification, synthesis route of Fe₂O₃ with different morphologies, and several modifications of Fe₂O₃ for improved photocatalytic performance. These include the incorporation with supporting materials, formation of heterojunction with other semiconductor photocatalysts, as well as the fabrication of Z-scheme. Explicitly, the other photocatalytic applications of Fe₂O₃, including for removal of heavy metals, reduction of CO₂, evolution of H₂, and N₂ fixation are also deliberately discussed to further highlight the huge potential of this catalyst. Moreover, the prospects and future challenges are also comprised to expose the unscrutinized criteria of Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst. This review aims to contribute a knowledge transfer for providing more information on the potential of Fe₂O₃ photocatalyst. In the meantime, it might give an idea for utilization of this photocatalyst in other environmental remediation application.

Oxidized chitosan modified electrospun scaffolds for controllable release of acyclovir

Developing a novel scaffold carrier with a sustained and controllable release profile of drug is essential to promote the effective transdermal delivery for acyclovir (ACY). In this work, electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (PAN NFs) was chemically modified with oxidized chitosan (OC). The modified fibrous scaffold was further loaded with the ACY for drug released investigation. FT-IR and NMR results revealed that the conversion of the functional group for each step has successfully occurred on the surface of the fibers. Through the in-vitro drug release and kinetic study, it demonstrated that ACY could be sustainably and controlled released from the OC modified scaffold following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with a Fickian diffusion mechanism. The human adipose-derived stem cells and the blood combability evaluation confirmed the obtained scaffold possessed excellent cell biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. It could be concluded that the resultant OC modified scaffold based on electrospun PAN NFs opened a new potential option for the topical/transdermal drug delivery of ACY.

Chitosan functionalized magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposite for the sensitive and effective determination of alkaloids in hotpot

Chitosan functionalized magnetic graphene oxide nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CS/GO) was successfully fabricated via a facile amide reaction between chitosan and graphene oxide. A novel extraction method using Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CS/GO as nanoadsorbent was developed and applied to the efficient extraction and determination of multiple alkaloids from the complex matrix. The composition and structure of the nanoadsorbent was systematically characterized by various techniques. The nanoadsorbent possesses performances of high efficiency, easy operation, superparamagnetism, environment friendly and economic feasibility. The adsorption mechanism for alkaloids included π-π electron-donor-acceptor interaction, cation-π interaction and hydrogen bonding. The principal parameters influencing extraction procedure such as adsorbent dosage, pH, adsorption time, desorption conditions and regeneration cycles were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the method exhibited good linear dynamic range with correlation coefficient (r²) higher than 0.997 and the limit of detection (LOD) was among 0.016--0.092 μg kg^-1. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <10%. These results indicated that the developed method was successfully applied for simultaneous detection of alkaloids in hotpot. This study provided valuable guidance and effective method for the analysis of alkaloids in intricate interference system.

Biosorption of glycerol impurities from biodiesel production onto electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers: equilibrium and thermodynamic evaluations

The increase in biodiesel production has been leading to an excess amount of crude glycerol and, consequently, serious environmental issues. For this reason, electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers (CB-EN), composed by chitosan and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), were synthesized to apply in the biosorption of impurities from industrial glycerol. To evaluate the biosorption efficiency, the chitosan-based nanofiber was compared to other chitosan-based biosorbents (chitosan biopolymeric film and chitosan powder). The equilibrium and thermodynamic studies were successfully performed to comprehend the interaction mechanisms through the biosorption of glycerol pigments onto electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers. The temperature effect was evaluated by experimental equilibrium curves. Freundlich and BET models were used to estimate isotherm parameters. Gibbs free energy change, enthalpy change, entropy change, and isosteric heat of biosorption were quantified. The equilibrium curves showed that the highest equilibrium relative adsorption (340.7 g^-1) was reached at 60 °C. The BET model was the most suitable to represent the equilibrium behavior. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the biosorption was spontaneous, exothermic, random, and energetic heterogeneous. Therefore, this work developed a green and efficient alternative to refine industrial glycerol. Graphical abstract Note: This data is mandatory. Please provide.

Adsorption of Congo red dye on FexCo3-xO4 nanoparticles

The advanced treatment of industrial wastewater often calls upon the use of highly-efficient treatment methods to remove hazardous pollutants prior to the effluent discharge. Adsorption can be used towards removing micro-pollutants. Congo Red dye is widely used in the paper and textile industry, and residual quantities are present in the process effluents. Adsorbing metal oxide nanoparticles have abundant pores of appropriate size, a large specific surface area, and can efficiently remove organic pollutants from waste water. Fe_xCo_3-xO₄ nanoparticle adsorbents were synthesized. Their magnetic properties facilitate their recovery. Experiments were conducted for different Congo Red concentrations and Fe_xCo_3-xO₄ nanoparticles dosage. The maximum Congo Red adsorption capacity of Fe_xCo_3-xO₄ nanoparticles at equilibrium was 128.6 mg/g. The adsorption yield of Congo Red decreased from 86.12% to 79.53% when the initial concentration of Congo Red increased from 10 mg/L to 30 mg/L, Adsorption results were modeled to define essential parameters such as the adsorption mechanisms and kinetics. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model fitted the results. The equilibrium adsorption data were moreover fitted by isotherm models, with both the Langmuir and Freundlich equations shown appropriate. The re-use of the nanoparticle adsorbent was moreover investigated for 5 successive adsorption cycles, without loss of adsorption capacity. A case study for the adsorption of Congo Red on the Fe_xCo_3-xO₄ nanoparticles demonstrates that the required mass of adsorbent can be calculated for any amount of Congo Red to be removed. It was demonstrated that the fairly cheap and environmentally friendly Fe_xCo_3-xO₄ nanoparticles have a strong adsorption and removal ability for dyes and are easy to recycle.

Electrocoagulation using commercial grade aluminium electrode for the removal of crystal violet from aqueous solution

The current research work studies the removal of crystal violet (also known as gentian violet), a kind of dye, from simulated wastewater by electrocoagulation using scrap aluminium roofing sheet as electrode in a batch electrochemical cell. Optimization of different operational parameters - pH, current density, time, initial concentration - was carried out experimentally. The equilibrium was attained at 1 hour and at pH 11. After suitable optimization, a removal of above 90% was achieved at an optimum current density of 20 mA/m². Also, the adsorption behaviour of crystal violet in electrocoagulation was also studied and the isothermal and kinetic models were proposed to be the Dubinin-Radushkevich model and pseudo-first order model. The mechanism involved during the process was suggested as chemisorption. The adsorption thermodynamic studies were a clear indication that the process is spontaneous and endothermic as well as thermodynamically favourable too. Both chemical and physical characterization of the flocs generated during the electrolysis was explained by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively.

Synthesis of fibrous LaFeO3 perovskite oxide for adsorption of Rhodamine B

The LaFeO₃ perovskite oxide decorated active carbon fibers (LFO-ACFs) based on cotton fabric waste were successfully synthesized through sol-gel loading and thermal treatment. LaFeO₃ perovskite and cotton fabric waste were combined to an eco-friendly and cheap adsorbent, which could reuse the leftover materials of textile industry and realize their functional modification. The structural, morphology/microstructure and functional groups were investigated through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The XRD pattern suggested the cotton fabric matrix didn't influence the structure of LaFeO₃ perovskite oxide. In SEM studies, LFO-ACFs still maintained fibrous shape of the raw cotton fibers, and the EDX analysis showed that the main elements of the prepared LFO-ACFs were La, Fe, O and C. The synthesized LFO-ACF was employed for adsorption of cational dye of Rhodamine B (RhB), and the effects of adsorption parameters, i.e. pH, contact time, solution temperature and initial concentration of dye, on adsorption behavior were investigated. Results suggested the adsorption performance of LFO-ACF for RhB was nearly not affected by solution pH and its maximum adsorption capacity fitted by the Langmuir isothermal model could attain 182.6 mg/g at 293 K. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order equation and the regeneration of LFO-ACF could be well realized through an easy pyrolysis method.

β-Chitin samples with similar microfibril arrangement change mechanical properties varying the degree of acetylation

Chitin is widespread in nature and is increasingly used in synthetic process for the production of new biomaterials. Chitin degree of acetylation, crystalline structure and microfibril arrangement differentiate chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Nevertheless, no information are available on the relationship between the mechanical properties and the degree of acetylation (DA) in chitin samples in which the microfibril arrangement does not change. Here, samples of β-chitin with decreasing DA, up to chitosan, were prepared using the squid pen of Loligo vulgaris. These samples were characterized by CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analyses, synchrotron X-ray fiber diffraction and tensile tests. The results showed a similar microfibril arrangement decreasing the DA, except for the chitosan sample. The mechanical properties showed an increase of the maximum strain and a reduction of the maximum stress and Young's modulus, decreasing the DA. These changes, not linear with the DA, were related to structural changes at molecular structure level. The knowledge deriving from this study is of interest both for the understanding of the mechanical properties of chitinous biological samples, but also for the design and synthesis of new biomacromolecular materials.

Calcium Chloride Modified Alginate Microparticles Formulated by the Spray Drying Process: A Strategy to Prolong the Release of Freely Soluble Drugs

Alginate (ALG) cross-linking by CaCl₂ is a promising strategy to obtain modified-release drug delivery systems with mucoadhesive properties. However, current technologies to produce CaCl₂ cross-linked alginate microparticles possess major disadvantages, such as a poor encapsulation efficiency of water-soluble drugs and a difficulty in controlling the process. Hence, this study presents a novel method that streamlines microparticle production by spray drying; a rapid, continuous, reproducible, and scalable technique enabling obtainment of a product with low moisture content, high drug loading, and a high production yield. To model a freely water-soluble drug, metformin hydrochloride (MF) was selected. It was observed that MF was successfully encapsulated in alginate microparticles cross-linked by CaCl₂ using a one-step drying process. Modification of ALG provided drug release prolongation-particles obtained from 2% ALG cross-linked by 0.1% CaCl₂ with a prolonged MF rate of dissolution of up to 12 h. Cross-linking of the ALG microparticles structure by CaCl₂ decreased the swelling ratio and improved the mucoadhesive properties which were evaluated using porcine stomach mucosa.