Magnetic reduced graphene oxide loaded hydrogels: Highly versatile and efficient adsorbents for dyes and selective Cr(VI) ions removal

Natural Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels Used for Dye Removal

Removal of contaminants from discharge water is vital and demands urgent assistance with the goal to keep clean water. Adsorption is one of the most common, efficient, and low-priced methods used in water treatment. Various polysaccharide-based gels have been used as efficient dye adsorbents from wastewater. This review summarizes cutting-edge research of the last decade of different hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides (chitin, chitosan, cellulose, starch, pullulan, and dextran) concerning their dye adsorption efficiency. Beyond their natural abundance, attributes of polysaccharides such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost make them not only efficient, but also environmentally sustainable candidates for water purification. The synthesis and dye removal performance together with the effect of diverse factors on gels retaining ability, kinetic, and isotherm models encountered in adsorption studies, are introduced. Thermodynamic parameters, sorbent recycling capacity along with conclusions and future prospects are also presented.

Polymeric hydrogels-based materials for wastewater treatment

Low-cost and reliable wastewater treatment is a relevant issue worldwide to reduce the concentration of environmental pollutants. Industrial effluents containing dyes, heavy metals, and other inorganic and organic compounds can pollute water resources; therefore, novel technologies are required to mitigate and control their release into the environment. Adsorption is one of the simplest methods for treating contaminated water in which a wide spectrum of adsorbents can be used to remove emerging compounds. Hydrogels are interesting materials with high adsorption capacities that can be synthesized via green routes. These adsorbents are promising for large-scale industrial wastewater treatment applications; however, gaps still exist in achieving sustainable commercial implementation. This review focuses on the discussion and analysis of preparation, characterization, and adsorption properties of hydrogels for water purification. The advantages of these polymeric materials for water treatment were analyzed, including their performance in the removal of different organic and inorganic contaminants. Recent advances in the functionalization of hydrogels and the synthesis of novel composites have also been described. The adsorption capacities of hydrogel-based adsorbents are higher than 500 mg/g for different organic and inorganic pollutants, and can reach values of up to >2000 mg/g for organic compounds, significantly outperforming other materials reported for water cleaning. The main interactions involved in the adsorption of water pollutants using hydrogel-based adsorbents were described and explained to allow the interpretation of their removal mechanisms. The current challenges in the implementation of hydrogels for water purification in real-life operations are also highlighted. This review provides an updated picture of hydrogels as interesting materials to address water depollution worldwide.

Removal of Methylene Blue and Congo Red Using a Chitosan-Graphene Oxide-Electrosprayed Functionalized Polymeric Nanofiber Membrane

Untreated textile effluent may contain toxic organic pollutants that can have negative impacts on the ecosystem. Among the harmful chemicals present in dyeing wastewater, there are two frequently used organic dyes: methylene blue (cationic) and congo red (anionic). The current study presents investigations on a novel two-tier nanocomposite membrane, i.e., a top layer formed of electrosprayed chitosan-graphene oxide and a bottom layer consisting of an ethylene diamine functionalized polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofiber for the simultaneous removal of the congo red and methylene blue dyes. The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Drop Shape Analyzer. Isotherm modeling was used to determine the efficiency of dye adsorption for the electrosprayed nanocomposite membrane and the confirmed maximum adsorptive capacities of 182.5 mg/g for congo red and 219.3 mg/g for methylene blue, which fits with the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting uniform single-layer adsorption. It was also discovered that the adsorbent preferred an acidic pH level for the removal of congo red and a basic pH level for the removal of methylene blue. The gained results can be a first step for the development of new wastewater cleaning techniques.

Nanocellulose/carbon dots hydrogel as superior intensifier of ZnO/AgBr nanocomposite with adsorption and photocatalysis synergy for Cr(VI) removal

A novel nanocellulose/carbon dots hydrogel (NCH) was fabricated using cellulose nanofibrils (CN), carbon dots (CD) and zinc oxide (ZnO)/silver bromide (AgBr) nanocomposite, where CD enhanced amino group-induced adsorption of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and promoted the photocatalytic properties of ZnO/AgBr nanocomposite via the transfer of photogenerated electrons, resulting in enhanced efficiency in the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the prepared NCH were characterized, with the results of adsorption and photocatalysis experiments showing the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of the NCH to be 315 mg/g, 219 times that of the ZnO/AgBr nanocomposite; the apparent removal rate constant of the NCH was 0.0319 min^-1, 11.7 times that of the ZnO/AgBr nanocomposite. Furthermore, the removal performance of NCH was attributed to CD-enhanced synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis effects, supported by characterization and experimental results. This work provides insight into the design and fabrication of a novel adsorptive photocatalyst with CD-enhanced synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis effects for removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.

The effect of Fe-Zn mole ratio (2:1) bimetallic nanoparticles supported by hydroxyethyl cellulose/graphene oxide for high-efficiency removal of doxycycline

In this research, Hydroxyethyl cellulose - graphene oxide HEC-GO and HEC-GO/Fe-Zn mole ratio (2:1) nanocomposite as adsorbents were fabricated by crosslinking ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) to study the thermodynamic, kinetic and isotherm of doxycycline antibiotic adsorption. The morphology and structure of the adsorbents were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (FE-SEM- EDX), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The adsorption behavior of doxycycline (DOX) was studied with different parameters including doxycycline concentration, pH, the dose of adsorbent (HEC-GO and HEC-GO/Fe-Zn, mole ratio (2:1)), contact time, and temperature. The optimal conditions for the removal of DOX are pH = 3.0, contact time 100 min, and 20 min for HEC-GO and HEC-GO/Fe-Zn mole ratio (2:1). The removal percentage for HEC-GO and HEC-GO/Fe-Zn mole ratio (2:1) was 97% and 95.5%, respectively. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms such as the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models were analyzed according to the experimental data. Also, four adsorption kinetics were investigated for removing DOX. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models provided the best fit for experimental data for HEC-GO and HEC-GO/Fe-Zn mole ratio (2:1). Thermodynamic data showed that negative values of Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) and the negative value of enthalpy (ΔH°) of the adsorption process for adsorbents. It means that DOX removal was a spontaneous and exothermic reaction.

Chitosan-Graphene Oxide Dip-Coated Polyacrylonitrile-Ethylenediamine Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane for Removal of the Dye Stuffs Methylene Blue and Congo Red

Textile wastewater accommodates many toxic organic contaminants that could potentially threaten the ecosystem if left untreated. Methylene blue is a toxic, non-biodegradable, cationic dye that is reportedly observed in significant amounts in the textile effluent stream as it is widely used to dye silk and cotton fabrics. Congo red is a carcinogenic anionic dye commonly used in the textile industry. This study reports an investigation of methylene blue and Congo red removal using a chitosan-graphene oxide dip-coated electrospun nanofiber membrane. The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, UV-vis Spectroscopy, Drop Shape Analyzer, and X-ray Diffraction. The isotherm modeling confirmed a maximum adsorptive capacity of 201 mg/g for methylene blue and 152 mg/g for Congo red, which were well fitted with a Langmuir isotherm model indicating homogenous monolayer adsorption.

Recent developments of polysaccharide based superabsorbent nanocomposite for organic dye contamination removal from wastewater - A review

One of the main problems with water pollution is dye contamination of rivers, industrial effluents, and water sources. It has endangered the world's sources of drinking water. Several remediation strategies have been carefully developed and tested to minimize this ominous picture. Due to their appealing practical and financial benefits, adsorption methods in particular are often listed as one of the most popular solutions to remediate dye-contaminated water. Biopolymer-based hydrogel nanocomposites are a cutting-edge class of materials with a wide range of applications that are effective in removing organic dyes from the environment. Since the incorporation of various materials into hydrogel matrices generated composite materials with distinct characteristics, these unique materials were often alluded to as ideal adsorbents. The fundamental emphasis of the conceptual and critical review of the literature in this research is the significant potential of hydrogel nanocomposites (HNCs) to remediate dye-contaminated water (especially for articles from the previous five years). The review also provides knowledge for the development of biopolymer-based HNCs, prospects, and opportunities for future research. It is also focused on optimum conditions for dye adsorption processes along with their adsorption kinetics and isotherm models. In summary, the information gained in this review research may contribute to a strengthened scientific rationale for the practical and efficient application of these novel adsorbent materials.

Graphene-Based Adsorbents for Arsenic, Fluoride, and Chromium Adsorption: Synthesis Methods Review

Water contamination around the world is an increasing problem due to the presence of contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, and chromium. The presence of such contaminants is related to either natural or anthropogenic processes. The above-mentioned problem has motivated the search for strategies to explore and develop technologies to remove these contaminants in water. Adsorption is a common process employed for such proposals due to its versatility, high adsorption capacity, and lower cost. In particular, graphene oxide is a material that is of special interest due to its physical and chemical properties such as surface area, porosity, pore size as well as removal efficiency for several contaminants. This review shows the advances, development, and perspectives of materials based on GO employed for the adsorption of contaminants such as arsenite, arsenate, fluoride, and hexavalent chromium. We provided a detailed discussion of the synthesis techniques and their relationship with the adsorption capacities and other physical properties as well as pH ranges employed to remove the contaminants. It is concluded that the adsorption capacity is not proportional to the surface area in all the cases; instead, the synthesis method, as well as the functional groups, play an important role. In particular, the sol-gel synthesis method shows better adsorption capacities.

Metal Oxide Hydrogel Composites for Remediation of Dye-Contaminated Wastewater: Principal Component Analysis

Water pollution is caused by multiple factors, such as industrial dye wastewater. Dye-contaminated water can be treated using hydrogels as adsorbent materials. Recently, composite hydrogels containing metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) have been used extensively in wastewater remediation. In this study, we use a statistical and artificial intelligence method, based on principal component analysis (PCA) with different applied parameters, to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of 27 different MONP composite hydrogels for wastewater dye treatment. PCA showed that the hydrogel composites CTS@Fe3O4, PAAm/TiO2, and PEGDMA-rGO/Fe3O4@cellulose should be used in situations involving high pH, time to reach equilibrium, and adsorption capacity. However, as the composites PAAm-co-AAc/TiO2, PVPA/Fe3O4@SiO2, PMOA/ATP/Fe3O4, and PVPA/Fe3O4@SiO2, are preferred when all physical and chemical properties investigated have low magnitudes. To conclude, PCA is a strong method for highlighting the essential factors affecting hydrogel composite selection for dye-contaminated water treatment.

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.

Evaluation of the Adsorption Efficiency of Graphene Oxide Hydrogels in Wastewater Dye Removal: Application of Principal Component Analysis

Industrial dye wastewater is one of the major water pollution problems. Adsorbent materials are promising strategies for the removal of water dye contaminants. Herein, we provide a statistical and artificial intelligence study to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of graphene oxide-based hydrogels in wastewater dye removal by applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This study aims to assess the adsorption quality of 35 different hydrogels. We adopted different approaches and showed the pros and cons of each one of them. PCA showed that alginate graphene oxide-based hydrogel (without polyvinyl alcohol) had better tolerance in a basic medium and provided higher adsorption capacity. Polyvinyl alcohol sulfonated graphene oxide-based hydrogels are suitable when higher adsorbent doses are required. In conclusion, PCA represents a robust way to delineate factors affecting hydrogel selection for pollutant removal from aqueous solutions.

Fluorescent nanocellulose-based hydrogel incorporating titanate nanofibers for sorption and detection of Cr(VI)

Chromium pollution is a major environmental concern; thus, effective and multifunctional adsorbents for removing the Cr(VI) ion are urgently needed. A fluorescent nanocellulose-based hydrogel (FNH) incorporating titanate nanofibers (TNs) was developed for the sorption and detection of Cr(VI) ion. The chemical and physical structures of the hydrogels, as well as their sorption and detection properties, were studied. The predicted maximum adsorption capacity and the lowest detection limit of FNH were 648.4 mg/g and 0.039 μg/L, respectively. Furthermore, the sorption and detection mechanisms of FNH were discussed in detail. These results showed that the excellent sorption and detection might be mainly attributed to the three-dimensional (3D) porous structure constructed by TNs and cellulose nanocrystals modified with carbon dots, which improved the sorption ability and provided the rapid visual response to Cr(VI). Furthermore, cost analysis showed that FNH was cheaper than activated carbon in removing the Cr(VI) ion. This work established a facile technique in developing low-cost and multifunctional adsorbents.

Adsorption-reduction of Cr(VI) onto unmodified and phytic acid-modified carob waste: Kinetic and isotherm modeling

Carob waste (CW) is an agro-biomass material abundant in nature with potential use for eco-friendly remediation. However, like many biomass-based adsorbents, it suffers from its low adsorption capacity for organic/inorganic pollutants. Therefore, modification using physical and/or chemical means is commonly applied to improve the adsorptive properties of biomass-based adsorbents. In this study, carob waste (CW) and carob waste functionalized with phytic acid (PA-CW), as an ecofriendly product, were applied for the first time for Cr(VI) elimination. Various methods were applied for the material characterization like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), specific surface area and porosity measurements. The results proved that both CW and PA-CW own appropriate features for efficient adsorption. Bach experiments revealed that the optimum parameters for Cr(VI) (100 mg/mL) removal at 25 °C were pH 2, 0.05 and 0.025 g as adsorbent dose for CW and PA-CW, respectively, over 120 min contact time. The kinetic of adsorption was well-described by the pseudo-second order model, whereas the isotherm modeling fitted well the modified Langmuir model. CW and PA-CW achieved respectively maximum adsorption capacities of 212.4 and 387.9 mg/g, which are among the highest values so far reported for biomass-based adsorbent materials. These results confirmed that CW and PA-CW could be alternative cost-effective adsorbents even for high concentrations of Cr(VI) in industrial wastewaters along with their reduction capacity.

Sustainable multilayer biomass carbon and polymer hybrid column as potential antibacterial water filter

Stipulation of fresh water for domestic use without any microbial, organic and inorganic contaminants is of high need. Sustainable, efficient, cost-effective and robust water purification technologies is of high need and it can be achieved using nanomaterials and their composite. Nanostructured graphene has unique properties like high surface to volume ratio, higher absorbability, reusability with minimal chemical alterations, and low cytotoxicity. From the validation of these properties, we have developed PLLA-Ag@graphene sandwich structures as an effective adsorbate for water purification application. As the real water bodies have lot of bacterial contaminants, the material is also designed as efficient adsorbate with antibacterial efficacy. In view of achieving these objectives, we have synthesized PLLA fibre mats by electrospinning method, followed by PLLA-Graphene and Ag decorated PLLA-graphene mats. The crystallite size for graphite and Ag@graphene was calculated as 30.82 nm and 43.79 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the UV analysis of Ag@graphene shows two peaks corresponding to graphene and Ag NP at 285 nm and 407 nm respectively. The layers were assembled in the order of polymeric fibre, as-fired biomass graphite, Ag@graphene for methodical filtration process. The filtration efficacy of the filtrate was tested using sewage water and the results shows higher contamination removal percentage of 87 % with TDS values in the drinking water standards after filtration. The antibacterial efficacy results also evidence of the potentialities of the hybrid system towards water purification application.

A Biocompatible, pH-Sensitive, and Magnetically Separable Superparamagnetic Hydrogel Nanocomposite as an Efficient Platform for the Removal of Cationic Dyes in Wastewater Treatment

A series of environment-friendly cationic dye adsorbents, namely, pH-sensitive superparamagnetic hydrogel nanocomposite AA-VSA-P/SPIONs systems with different concentrations of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs; 1.2, 3.2, and 5.2 wt %), was synthesized by free-radical polymerization reaction using two pH-sensitive monomers, acrylic acid (AA) and vinylsulfonic acid (VSA), in an optimum ratio, in the presence of presynthesized SPIONs. The structural properties, thermal stability, and chemical configuration of AA-VSA-P/SPIONs systems with different weight percentages of SPIONs were characterized by XRD, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. The systems show substantial efficiency as dye adsorbents for removing cationic dyes (MB dye) from aqueous solution in neutral to alkaline medium. Further, these systems exhibit easy magnetic separation capabilities from aqueous solutions after dye adsorption, even for a very low weight percentage of SPIONs. The adsorption kinetics, mechanism, and isotherms of these systems were evaluated. The study suggests consistency with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, following an intraparticle diffusion mechanism, where the heterogeneous surface of the system having different activation energies for adsorption plays the crucial role in dye adsorption via chemisorption for higher pH medium, which was further substantiated by excellent data fit with the Freundlich isotherm model. Biocompatibility and regeneration-ability studies establish the environment-friendliness and cost effectivity of the system.

Novel fluorescent lignin-based hydrogel with cellulose nanofibers and carbon dots for highly efficient adsorption and detection of Cr(VI)

A novel fluorescent lignin-based hydrogel with cellulose nanofibers and carbon dots (CDs) was synthesized for the high-value utilization of lignin and control of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). Its chemical and physical structure was characterized, and its Cr(VI) sorption performance was evaluated. The results demonstrated that 3D porous structures were constructed in this hydrogel. The maximum adsorption capacity of this hydrogel was 599.9 mg/g, and its sorption performance met Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models. Meanwhile, this novel hydrogel exhibited high sensitivity to Cr(VI), with a limit of detection of 11.2 mg/L and a wide linear range from 15 to 200 mg/L. Moreover, its mechanism for efficiently adsorbing and detecting Cr(VI) was analyzed. The results confirmed that the efficient adsorption and detection were due to these 3D porous structures generated by the lignin and cellulose nanofibers modified with CDs. The porous structures provided many active sites and ion transport channels, thereby improving the adsorption, and stabilized the fluorescence signal, thus enhancing the detection.

Cellulose Nanocrystals/Graphene Hybrids-A Promising New Class of Materials for Advanced Applications

With the growth of global fossil-based resource consumption and the environmental concern, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, which exhibit promising properties and could maintain an acceptable level of performance to substitute the petroleum-based ones. As elite nanomaterials, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) derived from natural renewable resources, exhibit excellent physicochemical properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility and have attracted tremendous interest nowadays. Their combination with other nanomaterials such as graphene-based materials (GNM) has been revealed to be useful and generated new hybrid materials with fascinating physicochemical characteristics and performances. In this context, the review presented herein describes the quickly growing field of a new emerging generation of CNC/GNM hybrids, with a focus on strategies for their preparation and most relevant achievements. These hybrids showed great promise in a wide range of applications such as separation, energy storage, electronic, optic, biomedical, catalysis and food packaging. Some basic concepts and general background on the preparation of CNC and GNM as well as their key features are provided ahead.

Interaction of cellulose and nitrodopamine coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with alpha-lactalbumin

The adsorption of BLA on the SPIOns, and their non-toxic nature of the bioconjugate make these nanoparticles new model nanostructures for nanomedicine orientated applications.

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic graphene oxide for arsenic removal from aqueous solution

A magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) was developed for the adsorption of As(III) from aqueous solution. The characteristics of MGO were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope-E/energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. Batch adsorption experiments were designed using central composite design, and the effects of adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time and concentration of As(III) were investigated. The MGO showed an excellent performance, removing up to 99.95% of As(III) under the following condition: initial As(III) concentration = 100 mg/L, pH = 7, adsorbent dosage = 0.3 g/L and contact time = 77 min. MGO dosage and initial pH were the most significant parameters influencing the process performance. FTIR analysis of the used adsorbent confirms the adsorption of As(III) through complexation between surface functional groups of the MGO and the oxyanions of As(III). The adsorbent maintained a significant level of performance even after four cycles of adsorption. Thus, the developed MGO has the potential to be used for the abatement of arsenic pollution.

Three-dimensional graphene-based adsorbents in sewage disposal: a review

A kind of graphene functional materials based on three-dimensional (3D) porous structure is a new star for environmental application in the past decades because it not only inherits the perfect carbon crystal structure of two-dimensional (2D) graphene sheets but also exhibits several advantages such as extremely low density, high porosity, and big surface area, all which enable diverse contaminants to easily access and diffuse into 3D networks, and make these materials ideal adsorbents with superior adsorptivity and recyclability. This review aims to summarize the recent progress in constructing 3D graphene-based adsorbents (3DGBAs) with two hybrid systems such as graphene/polymers and graphene/inorganic nanomaterials, and to provide a fundamental understanding of synthetic methods for interconnecting these nanostructures, structure-property relationships, and extensive applications in environmental protection towards adsorption of heavy metals, dyes, oils, and organic pollutants. Furthermore, we make a forecast on the future development opportunities and technical challenges, which is hoped to make an inspiration for the researchers to exploit a new family of graphene-based adsorption materials. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Polyethylenimine-functionalized silk sericin beads for high-performance remediation of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution

The enhancement of the metal adsorption and remediation performance of biomass-based adsorbents is an important challenge in heavy metal removal processes. One of the most viable and practical approaches in accomplishing a high metal removal efficiency is the surface modification of natural polymer adsorbents with functional polymeric materials. In the present study, polyethylenimine (PEI)-modified silk sericin beads were fabricated. The PEI modification process was confirmed and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)-based elemental analysis. The Cr(VI) remediation capabilities of PEI-modified sericin beads were analyzed by testing Cr(VI) removal from contaminated water. The results show that the Cr(VI) removal capacity of PEI-modified sericin beads was 365.3 mg/g, which is significantly higher than that of pristine sericin beads (34.56 mg/g). During the Cr(VI) removal process, Cr(VI) adsorption and reduction to Cr(III) occurred simultaneously. The results herein reveal that the synthesized PEI-modified sericin beads are a promising material for Cr(VI) adsorption and detoxification of aqueous solution.

In situ co-precipitation preparation of a superparamagnetic graphene oxide/Fe3O4 nanocomposite as an adsorbent for wastewater purification: synthesis, characterization, kinetics, and isotherm studies

A superparamagnetic graphene oxide (GO)/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite (MGO) was prepared by a facile in situ co-precipitation strategy, resulting in a prospective material for the application of graphene oxide in wastewater treatment. MGO was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The prepared adsorbent showed a high adsorption efficiency relevant to the purification of dye-contaminated wastewater and could be readily magnetically separated. The maximum adsorption capacity was ca. 546.45 mg g^-1 for the common cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and ca. 628.93 mg g^-1 for the anionic dye Congo red (CR). The adsorption processes fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well, which revealed that these processes may involve the chemical interaction between adsorbate and adsorbent. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption reaction was an endothermic and spontaneous process. Furthermore, the prepared magnetic adsorbent had a wide effective pH range from 5 to 11 and showed good stability after five reuse cycles. The synthetic MGO showed great potential as a promising adsorbent for organic contaminant removal in wastewater treatment.

Graphene Oxide-Based Nanocomposites Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles as an Antibacterial Agent

One of the most promising methods against drug-resistant bacteria can be surface-modified materials with biocidal nanoparticles and nanocomposites. Herein, we present a nanocomposite with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) as a novel multifunctional antibacterial and antifungal material. Ultrasonic technologies have been used as an effective method of coating polyurethane foils. Toxicity on gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis), and pathogenic yeast (Candida albicans) was evaluated by analysis of cell morphology, assessment of cell viability using the PrestoBlue assay, analysis of cell membrane integrity using the lactate dehydrogenase assay, and reactive oxygen species production. Compared to Ag-NPs and GO, which have been widely used as antibacterial agents, our nanocomposite shows much higher antimicrobial efficiency toward bacteria and yeast cells.

Fabrication of Ag3PO4/GO/NiFe2O4 composites with highly efficient and stable visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

Effective visible-light-driven Ag₃PO₄/GO/NiFe₂O₄Z-scheme magnetic composites were successfully fabricated by a simple ion-exchange deposition method. The Ag₃PO₄/GO/NiFe₂O₄ (8%) composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity (degradation efficiency was ∼96% within 15 min and kinetic constant reached 0.1956 min⁻¹) and stability when compared to Ag₃PO₄, NiFe₂O₄, and Ag₃PO₄/NiFe₂O₄ for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Furthermore, by electrochemical and fluorescence measurements, the Ag₃PO₄/GO/NiFe₂O₄ (8%) material also showed larger transient photocurrent, lower impedance, and longer fluorescence lifetime (7.82 ns). Comparing the activity result dependence with characterization results, it was indicated that photocatalytic activity depended on fast charge transfer from Ag₃PO₄ to NiFe₂O₄ through GO sheet. The h⁺ and ·O₂⁻ species played important roles in RhB degradation under visible-light. A possible Z-scheme mechanism is proposed over the Ag₃PO₄/GO/NiFe₂O₄ (8%) composite. This study might provide a promising visible light responsive photocatalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes in wastewater.

Effective visible-light-driven Ag₃PO₄/GO/NiFe₂O₄Z-scheme magnetic composites were successfully fabricated by a simple ion-exchange deposition method. The composites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and stability for RhB degradation.

Enhanced removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous media using a highly stable and magnetically separable rosin-biochar-coated TiO2@C nanocomposite

Recently, nanosized metal-oxides have been extensively investigated for their ability to remove metal ions from aqueous media. However, the activity and capacity of these nanosized metal-oxides for removing metal ions decrease owing to their agglomeration in aqueous media. Herein, we synthesized a highly stable and magnetically separable rosin-biochar-coated (RBC) TiO₂@C nanocomposite through a facile and environment-friendly wet chemical coating process, followed by a one-step heating route (pyrolysis) for efficient removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution. An array of techniques, namely, TEM, HRTEM, TEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, VSM, BET and TGA, were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposite. The pyrolysis of rosin into biochar and the fabrication of Fe onto the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite were confirmed by FTIR and XRD examination, respectively. Moreover, TEM and HRTEM images and elemental mapping using TEM-EDS showed good dispersion of iron and carbon on the surface of the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite. Sorption of Cr(vi) ions on the surface of the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was very fast and efficient, having a removal efficiency of ∼95% within the 1^st minute of reaction. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis showed negative values of Gibb's free energy at all five temperatures, indicating that the adsorption of Cr(vi) ions on the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was favorable and spontaneous. Conclusively, our results indicate that the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite can be used for efficient removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous media due to its novel synthesis and extraordinary adsorption efficacy during a short time period.

A biochar-coated RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was synthesized using a wet chemical coating followed by a one-step heating route (pyrolysis) for the efficient removal of Cr(vi).

Highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B by a novel Z-scheme Ag3PO4/MIL-101/NiFe2O4 composite

An Ag₃PO₄/MIL-101/NiFe₂O₄ composite was fabricated by an in situ precipitation method. The results implied that introduction of the MOF enhanced the rapid transfer of electrons from Ag₃PO₄ to NiFe₂O₄.