Preparation of porous microspherical adsorbent via pine pollen stabilized O1/W/O2 double emulsion for high-efficient removal of cationic dyes

Fabrication of porous adsorbents from eco-friendly aqueous foam for high-efficient removal of cationic dyes and sustainable utilization assessment

Porous materials applied in environmental remediation have received researchers' extensive attention recently, but the related green and convenient preparation method is rarely reported. Here, we recommended a green and convenient strategy for the fabrication of porous material via aqueous foam templates, which was synergistically stabilized by Codonopsis pilosula (CP) and clay minerals of attapulgite (APT). The characterization results revealed that the APT was modified by organic molecules leached from CP and anchored at the air-water interface, which improved the foam stability significantly. The novel porous material of polyacrylamide/Codonopsis pilosula/attapulgite (PAM/CP/APT) templated from the aqueous foam via a polymerization reaction had excellent adsorption capacity for the cationic dyes methyl violet (MV) and methylene blue (MB), and the adsorption capacity can reach 755.85 mg/g and 557.64 mg/g, respectively. More importantly, the adsorption capacity of spent adsorbent material was still over 200 mg/g after being recycled five times through a simple carbonization process, and then it was added to the plant pot, the total biomass was increased by about 86.42%. This study provided a green and sustainable pathway for the preparation, application and subsequent processing of porous materials.

Fabrication of porous adsorbent by quinoa husk stabilized foam templates for dye adsorption and carbonization for soil remediation

In this study, a novel adsorbent with a sufficient porous structure was fabricated using a green and highly stable water-based foam template. This template was stabilized with agricultural waste quinoa husk (QH) and applied to remove dye pollutants in wastewater. The porous adsorbent exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 740.95 mg/g for methylene blue and 1022.1 mg/g for methyl violet. The adsorption process was well described by the Langmuir-Freundlich model and the pseudo second-order kinetic model. A sustainable concept for handling the spent adsorbent was also proposed, involving its conversion into biochar and safe return to the soil. An additional benefit was observed, as the biochar effectively adjusted the physicochemical properties of the soil and improved crop growth with the addition of 1 wt%. The potential application of porous adsorbent in wastewater treatment and the reference of sustainable strategy for disposing of other adsorbents are both noteworthy.

Wastewater Treatment by Polymeric Microspheres: A Review

This review addresses polymer microspheres used as adsorbent for wastewater treatment. The removal of various pollutants (including dyes, heavy metal ions, and organic pollutants) is a prominent issue, as they can cause severe health problems. Porous microspheres can provide large specific area and active sites for adsorption or photo degradation. Enhancement in performance is achieved by various modifications, such as the introduction of nanoparticles, magnetic particles, and ZIF-8. Some microspheres were synthesized from synthetic polymers such as vinylic polymer and polydopamine (PDA) through a facile fabrication process. Natural polymers (such as cellulose, alginate, and chitosan) that are biodegradable and eco-friendly are also used. The adsorbents used in industrial application require high adsorption capacity, thermal stability, and recyclability. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the optimal conditions, influence of related factors, and adsorption capacities. Insights regarding the adsorption mechanisms were given from the kinetic model, isotherm model, and various characterization methods. The recyclability is investigated through regeneration ratio, or their maintenance of their capability through repeated adsorption-desorption cycles. The high potential of polymer microsphere for the removal of pollutants from wastewater is shown through the high adsorption capacities, environmentally friendliness, and high stability.

Polylactic acid nanoparticles for co-delivery of dinotefuran and avermectin against pear tree pests with improved effective period and enhanced bioactivity

Pesticide compounding technology for disease and pest control emerges as an effective way to increase the effectiveness of pesticides while reducing pesticides resistance. Nanomaterials and encapsulation technology have offered a new insight into preparing efficient pesticide formulations, especially constructing a co-delivery nanoparticle for synergistic pesticides. In this study, a dinotefuran/avermectin co-delivery nanoparticles (DACNPs) against pear tree pests with polylactic acid (PLA) as the wall material were constructed by double-emulsion method combined with high-pressure homogenization technique. The drug content of the DACNPs was 39.1% with an average size of 245.7 ± 4.2 nm and the mean polymer dispersity index (PDI) value was 0.123. The DACNPs showed high foliar retention and good spread performance on target leaves due to the nanoscale effect. The obtained DACNPs showed a better control effect on Grapholitha molesta Busck and Psylla chinensis Yang et Li compared with the commercial formulations, which could significantly prolong the effective duration and enhance the bioactivity with lower amounts and application frequency of pesticides. This study may provide new insights into developing novel pesticide formulations to improve the utilization rate of pesticides, reduce environmental pollution and minimize the cost of farming.

Fundamentals and Design-Led Synthesis of Emulsion-Templated Porous Materials for Environmental Applications

Emulsion templating is at the forefront of producing a wide array of porous materials that offers interconnected porous structure, easy permeability, homogeneous flow-through, high diffusion rates, convective mass transfer, and direct accessibility to interact with atoms/ions/molecules throughout the exterior and interior of the bulk. These interesting features together with easily available ingredients, facile preparation methods, flexible pore-size tuning protocols, controlled surface modification strategies, good physicochemical and dimensional stability, lightweight, convenient processing and subsequent recovery, superior pollutants remediation/monitoring performance, and decent recyclability underscore the benchmark potential of the emulsion-templated porous materials in large-scale practical environmental applications. To this end, many research breakthroughs in emulsion templating technique witnessed by the recent achievements have been widely unfolded and currently being extensively explored to address many of the environmental challenges. Taking into account the burgeoning progress of the emulsion-templated porous materials in the environmental field, this review article provides a conceptual overview of emulsions and emulsion templating technique, sums up the general procedures to design and fabricate many state-of-the-art emulsion-templated porous materials, and presents a critical overview of their marked momentum in adsorption, separation, disinfection, catalysis/degradation, capture, and sensing of the inorganic, organic and biological contaminants in water and air.