Polyamine functionalized cotton fibers selectively capture negatively charged dye pollutants

Wearable, Machine Washable, Breathable Polyethylenimine/Sodium Alginate Layer-by-Layer-Coated Cotton-Based Multifunctional Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Cotton-based textiles are ubiquitous in daily life and are prime candidates for application in wearable triboelectric nanogenerators. However, pristine cotton is vulnerable to bacterial attack, lacks antioxidant and ultraviolet (UV)-protective abilities, and shows lower triboelectric charge generation against tribonegative materials because it is present in the neutral region of the triboelectric series. To overcome such drawbacks, herein, a facile layer-by-layer method is proposed, involving the deposition of alternate layers of polyethylenimine (PEI) and sodium alginate (SA) on cotton. Such modified fabric remains breathable and flexible, retains its comfort properties, and simultaneously shows multifunctionalities and improved triboelectric output, which are retained even after 50 home laundering cycles. Also, the modified fabric becomes more tribopositive than nylon, silk, and wool. A triboelectric nanogenerator consisting of modified cotton and polyester fabric is proposed that shows a maximum power density of 338 mW/m2. An open-circuit voltage of ∼97.3 V and a short-circuit current of ∼4.59 μA are obtained under 20 N force and 1 Hz tapping frequency. Further, the modified cotton exhibits excellent antibacterial, antioxidant, and UV-protective properties because of the incorporation of PEI, and its moisture management properties are retained due to the presence of sodium alginate in the layer. This study provides a simple yet effective approach to obtaining durable multifunctionalities and improved triboelectric performance in cotton substrates.

Synthesis of cellulose II-based spherical nanoparticle microcluster adsorbent for removal of toxic hexavalent chromium

Since natural cellulose is mostly cellulose I and has a fibrous form, most cellulose-based adsorbents are fibrous/rod-shaped and exhibit the cellulose I crystal structure. This study reports a cellulose II-based spherical nanoparticle microcluster adsorbent (SNMA), synthesized from biomass by a bottom-up approach, for removing toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The basic structure of SNMA was investigated. Notably, the prepared adsorbent was a microcluster composed of spherical nanoparticles, while exhibiting cellulose II crystal structure, resulting in higher thermal stability and significantly enhanced adsorption performance. The adsorption process and mechanism of SNMA on Cr(VI) were studied in detail. The SNMA achieved a high adsorption capacity (225.94 mg/g) and receptor site density. The SNMA is expected to be used as a bio-based spherical nanoparticle microcluster adsorbent platform for the adsorption of different toxic substances by changing the surface functional groups of its components, spherical nanoparticles.

Production of Janus/Hecate microfibers by microfluidic photopolymerization and evaluation of their potential in dye removal

The microfluidic production of Janus/Hecate polymer microfibers with well-defined interfaces from miscible phases is reported. The process offers tunability of the width and composition of each part of the fibers by controlling the flow rate and nature of the monomers in a single step. The enhanced performances of the fibers are outlined for the simultaneous removal of dyes of opposite charges using amphoteric Janus fibers.

Study on the adsorption properties of multiple-generation hyperbranched collagen fibers towards isolan-series acid dyes

In the present study, collagen fibers derived from leather solid wastes were used and modified as insoluble vectors and successfully employed as adsorbents for the removal of acid dyes. A “one-step” method was applied to synthesis effective adsorbents, which provided a sustainable way to reuse leather solid wastes via multifunctional modification. The adsorption properties of amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer (HBPN)-modified collagen fibers for the removal of different kinds of acid dyestuff from aqueous solutions were studied. The adsorption capacities of the second generation of modified collagen fibers (CF-HBPN-II) toward Isolan Black 2S-LD, Supralan Yellow, Isolan Grey K-PBL 02, Isolan Dark Blue 2S-GL 03, and Isolan Brown NHF-S were determined to be 224.87, 340.14, 287.36, 317.80, and 251.25 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Three kinetic models, namely, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion, were used to analyze the kinetic data. The fitting result indicated that the adsorption process of Isolan Black 2S-LD on CF-HBPN-II followed a pseudo-second-order rate model. The adsorption equilibrium of amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer-modified collagen fibers (CF-HBPN) was analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The Langmuir isotherm was suitable to describe the adsorption process of Isolan Black 2S-LD. R_L was observed to be in the range of 0–1. The values of ΔH, ΔS and ΔG suggest that adsorption is an endothermic and spontaneous process. The adsorbed dye from the modified collagen fiber was successfully desorbed by 0.1 M NaOH. This research provides theoretical guidance for the engineering and recycling application of bio-based adsorbents.

Collagen fibers extracted from leather wastes were modified by amino-terminated hyperbranched polymers to prepare CF-HBPN-I and CF-HBPN-II. The adsorption process of CF-HBPN-II toward Isolan Black 2S-LD is in accordance with the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model.

Preparation and adsorption properties of hyperbranched polyethyleneimine-cellulose nanofiber aerogel

A novel cellulose-based aerogel was prepared by a chemical cross-linking reaction and hydrogen bonding between cellulose nanofibers (CNF), polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE), and hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (HPEI).