Cryogel-supported titanate nanotubes for waste treatment: Impact on methane production and bio-fertilizer quality

Green coagulation and flocculation: Scenedesmus algal extract-loaded chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel for effective water treatment

This study presents an eco-friendly approach to treat contaminated and turbid water through the development of cryogels loaded with bioactive compounds derived from Scenedesmus algal extract (ScAE) based on chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (Cs/PVA) matrix. Scenedesmus sp., a green microalga known for its bioactive properties, was cultivated and processed to obtain extracts with coagulation potential. This extract was incorporated into cryogel at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, and 8 mL to improve coagulation and flocculation processes. Physicochemical analyses, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirmed the successful synthesis and structural integrity of ScAE-loaded cryogels, demonstrating uniform morphology, high porosity, and enhanced mechanical strength with increasing ScAE concentration. Significant results highlight the effectiveness of a 50 mg ScAE-loaded cryogel, which achieved significant reductions in turbidity, from 6 NTU to 1.6 NTU, and total suspended solids (TSS), from 16 mg/L to 6 mg/L, in water samples. The highest concentration cryogel (ScAE-8) also demonstrated a 62 % reduction in nitrate levels, underscoring its capability for broader contaminant removal. These results reveal that the ScAE-loaded cryogels not only provide an effective, biodegradable alternative to conventional chemical coagulants such as alum but also align with green chemistry approaches, potentially providing a sustainable solution for the large-scale water treatment facilities while lowering the negative environmental consequnces.

Adsorption of cadmium by a high-capacity adsorbent composed of silicate-titanate nanotubes embedded in hydrogel chitosan beads

In this study, we developed a nanoparticle-based mesoporous composite that consisted of silicate-titanate nanotubes (STNTs) supported in hydrogel chitosan beads (STNTs-Ch beads) and was studied for Cd²⁺ adsorption. By using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, we could determine that the hollow STNTs were highly dispersed in the walls of the hollow beads. The dispersion was attributed to the effect of pH when the composite was prepared and we observed a non-interaction between STNTs and chitosan. The adsorption studies of Cd²⁺ showed that the kinetic rate (k ₂) increased 3-fold and that the diffusion rate (K _d) increased 2-fold after the embedment. Moreover, the maximum capacity of adsorption of STNTs-Ch beads was 2.3 times higher than that of STNTs alone. The treatment of a synthetic Cd²⁺ solution and a real leachate in continuous mode showed two phases in which it was observed higher removed fractions of transition metal ions (Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺) and the post-transition metal ion Pb²⁺, in comparison to the removed fractions of alkali and alkali-earth metal ions (Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺). The composite was successfully reused four times when adsorbing Cd²⁺, saving three times the needed amounts of TiO₂, SiO₂ and chitosan for the production of the material. This composite was produced in a simple way and shows the potential for wastewater treatment.

A review of cryogels synthesis, characterization and applications on the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions

The physical and chemical attributes of cryogels, such as the macroporosity, elasticity, water permeability and ease of chemical modification have attracted strong research interest in a variety of areas, such as water purification, catalysis, regenerative medicine, biotechnology, bioremediation and biosensors. Cryogels have shown high removal efficiency and selectivity for heavy metals, nutrients, and toxic dyes from aqueous solutions but there are challenges when scaling up from lab to commercial scale applications. This paper represents an overview of the most recent advances in the use of cryogels for the removal of heavy metals from water and attempts to fill the gap in the literature by deepening the understanding on the mechanisms involved, which strongly depend on the initial monomer composition and post-modification agent precursors used in synthesis. The review also describes the advantages of cryogels over other adsorbents and covers synthesis and characterization methods such as SEM/EDS, TEM, FTIR, zeta potential measurements, porosimetry, swelling and mechanical properties.

Novel nanostructured iron oxide cryogels for arsenic (As(III)) removal

Novel macroporous iron oxide nanocomposite cryogels were synthesized and assessed as arsenite (As(III)) adsorbents. The two-step synthesis method, by which a porous nanonetwork of iron oxide is firstly formed, allowed a homogeneous dispersion of the iron oxide in the cryogel reaction mixture, regardless of the nature of the co-polymer forming the cryogel structure. The cryogels showed excellent mechanical properties, especially the acrylamide-based cryogel. This gel showed the highest As(III) adsorption capacity, with the maximum value estimated at 118 mg/g using the Langmuir model. The immobilization of the nanostructured iron oxide gel into the cryogel matrix resulted in slower adsorption kinetics, however the cryogels offer the advantage of a stable three-dimensional structure that impedes the release of the iron oxide nanoparticles into the treated effluent. A preliminary toxicity evaluation of the cryogels did not indicate any apparent inhibition of human hepatic cells activity, which together with their mechanical stability and high adsorption capacity for As(III) make them excellent materials for the development of nanoparticle based adsorption devices for drinking water treatment.

Novel Amphoteric Cryogels for Cd2+ Ions Removal from Aqueous Solutions

In this work, amphoteric cryogels based on N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, methacrylic acid and allylamine, crosslinked by N,N-methylenebisacrylamide were synthesized by free-radical polymerization in cryo-conditions. The synthesized cryogels were used for the removal of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions under different pH values. The chemical structure was studied by FTIR, porosity by nitrogen adsorption and morphology by scanning electron microscopy and texture analyzer. The amphoteric properties of cryogels were studied by zeta potential measurements. Adsorption tests revealed that cryogels exhibit 3 times higher adsorption capacity at pH 6.0 than at pH 4.0. The maximum adsorption capacity of the amphoteric cryogels for Cd2+ was 113 mg/g, at pH 6.0 and initial Cd2+ concentration 100 ppm. The results suggest that the predominant removal mechanism is ion exchange between sodium, which initially presents in the structure of the cryogel, and cadmium from the aqueous phase. Recovery studies suggested that the cryogels used can be regenerated and efficiently reused.