Polyaniline@magnetic chitosan nanomaterials for highly efficient simultaneous adsorption and in-situ chemical reduction of hexavalent chromium: Removal efficacy and mechanisms

Trends in sustainable chitosan-based hydrogel technology for circular biomedical engineering: A review

Eco-friendly materials have emerged in biomedical engineering, driving major advances in chitosan-based hydrogels. These hydrogels offer a promising green alternative to conventional polymers due to their non-toxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, environmental friendliness, affordability, and easy accessibility. Known for their remarkable properties such as drug encapsulation, delivery capabilities, biosensing, functional scaffolding, and antimicrobial behavior, chitosan hydrogels are at the forefront of biomedical research. This paper explores the fabrication and modification methods of chitosan hydrogels for diverse applications, highlighting their role in advancing climate-neutral healthcare technologies. It reviews significant scientific advancements and trends chitosan hydrogels focusing on cancer diagnosis, drug delivery, and wound care. Additionally, it addresses current challenges and green synthesis practices that support a circular economy, enhancing biomedical sustainability. By providing an in-depth analysis of the latest evidence on climate-neutral management, this review aims to facilitate informed decision-making and foster the development of sustainable strategies leveraging chitosan hydrogel technology. The insights from this comprehensive examination are pivotal for steering future research and applications in sustainable biomedical solutions.

Selective adsorption of Cu(II) on amino-modified alginate-based aerogel: As a catalyst for the degradation of organic contaminant

In this study, amino-modified graphene oxide(NGO) was prepared by introducing amino functional groups. Based on the cross-linking between Ca(II) and sodium alginate (SA), associated with dense slit-like pore resulted from the nano-sheet accumulation of NGO and montmorillonite (MMT), composite aerogels (NGM) with stable pore structure were constructed, thus it realized the selective recovery of hydrated copper ions in complex wastewater systems. Raman analysis and density functional theory calculation confirmed the construction of amino-modified defect GO and significantly improved its chemical reactivity, which laid the foundation for the construction of slit pore structure of NGM (SEM can confirm). At the same time, it proposed that the good selective adsorption of Cu(II) on NGM was related to the synergism of strong electrostatic force, ion exchange and complexation based on the characterizations of FT-IR and XPS. In order to realize the value-added utilization of NGM aerogel (NGMC) after adsorbing Cu(II), NGMC was used as a catalyst to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater. Systematic experiments shown that NGMC can degrade organic pollutants with a degradation efficiency >80 %. In summary, NGM had a broad application prospect for selective recovery of Cu(II) from complex wastewater systems without second pollution.

Engineering a sustainable cadmium sulfide/polyethyleneimine-functionalized biochar/chitosan composite for effective chromium adsorption: optimization, co-interfering anions, and mechanisms

A novel eco-friendly adsorbent was fabricated by mixing mushroom-derived cadmium sulfide and polyethyleneimine-functionalized biochar that was fabricated from coffee waste with a chitosan biopolymer. The green-synthesized CdS/PEI-BC/CTS composite was analyzed using several characterization methods to identify its morphological, compositional, and structural characteristics. In addition, the adsorption property of the composite was investigated for hexavalent chromium as a model for anionic heavy metals. The best adsorption conditions to efficiently adsorb Cr(vi) onto CdS/PEI-BC/CTS were scrutinized in the batch mode. The experimental results elucidated that the higher adsorption efficacy for Cr(vi) was 97.89% at pH = 3, Cr(vi) concentration = 50 mg L-1, CdS/PEI-BC/CTS dose = 0.01 g, and temperature = 20 °C. The impact of co-interfering anionic species on Cr(vi) adsorption was identified in simulated wastewater. The recycling property of the CdS/PEI-BC/CTS composite was assessed for ten runs to ensure the applicability of the green composite. The adsorption mechanism and interaction types were proposed on the basis of kinetic and isotherm studies, along with analysis tools. The mechanistic study proposed that the Cr(vi) adsorption onto CdS/PEI-BC/CTS occurred via chemical and physical pathways, including protonation, electrostatic interactions, reduction, and coordination bonds.

Acid-resistant chitosan/graphene oxide adsorbent for Cu2+ removal: The role of mixed cross-linking and amino-functionalized

Copper ions in wastewater pose a significant threat to human and ecological safety. Therefore, preparing macroscopic adsorbents with reusable and high adsorption performance is paramount. This paper used graphene oxide as the adsorbent and chitosan as the thickener. Additionally, a silane coupling agent was employed to enhance the acid resistance of chitosan, and amino-modification of graphene oxide was performed. Macroscopic adsorbents with high adsorption capacity were fabricated using 3D printing technology. The results show that all five proportions of inks exhibit good printability. Dissolution experiments revealed that all materials maintained structural integrity after 180 days across pH values. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful preparation of the materials. Adsorption experiments showed that the best performing material ratio was 8 wt% graphene oxide and 7 wt% chitosan. Adsorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process occurred via monolayer chemisorption. The adsorption process was attributed to strong electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, and nitrogen/oxygen-containing functional group coordination. Cycling experiments showed that the material retained good adsorption performance after 6 cycles, suggesting its potential for practical heavy metal treatment applications.

Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanomaterials for Cardiovascular Applications

A central paradigm of cardiovascular homeostasis is that impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability results in a wide array of cardiovascular dysfunction including incompetent endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, thrombosis, vascular inflammation, and proliferation of the intima. Over the course of more than a century, NO donating formulations such as organic nitrates and nitrites have remained a cornerstone of treatment for patients with cardiovascular diseases. These donors primarily produce NO in the circulation and are not targeted to specific (sub)cellular sites of action. However, safe, and therapeutic levels of NO require delivery of the right amount to a precise location at the right time. To achieve these aims, several recent strategies aimed at therapeutically generating or releasing NO in living systems have shown that polymeric and inorganic (silica, gold) nanoparticles and nanoscale metal-organic frameworks could either generate NO endogenously by the catalytic decomposition of endogenous NO substrates or can store and release therapeutically relevant amounts of NO gas. NO-releasing nanomaterials have been developed for vascular implants (such as stents and grafts) to target atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and cardiac tissue engineering. In this review, we discuss the advances in design and development of novel NO-releasing nanomaterials for cardiovascular therapeutics and critically examine the therapeutic potential of these nanoplatforms to modulate cellular metabolism, to regulate vascular tone, inhibit platelet aggregation, and limit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle with minimal toxic effects.

Using NH2-MIL-125(Ti) for efficient removal of Cr(VI) and RhB from aqueous solutions: Competitive and cooperative behavior in the binary system

The coexistence of inorganic and organic contaminants is a challenge for real-life water treatment applications. Therefore, in this research, we used NH2-MIL-125(Ti) to evaluate the single adsorption of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) or Rhodamine B (RhB) in an aqueous solution and further investigate simultaneous adsorption experiments to compare the adsorption behavior changes. The main influencing factors, for example, reaction time, initial concentration, reaction temperature, and pH were studied in detail. In all reaction systems, the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models were well illuminated the adsorption progress of Cr(VI) and RhB. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. As compared to the single system, the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) in the binary system gradually decreased as the additive amount of RhB increased, whereas the adsorption capacity of RhB in the binary system was expanded brilliantly. When the binary reaction system contained 100 mg/L Cr(VI), the removal rate of RhB increased to 97.58%. The formation of Cr(VI)-RhB and Cr(III)-RhB complexes was the cause that provided facilitation for the adsorption of RhB. These findings prove that the interactions during the water treatment process between contaminants may obtain additional benefits, contributing to a better adsorption capacity of co-existing contaminant.

Fruit waste-derived cellulose-polyaniline composite for adsorption-coupled reduction of chromium oxyanions

Hexavalent chromium oxyanions, known as potentially toxic micropollutants, exist in the effluents and discharges of metallurgical, electroplating, refractory, chemical, and tanning industries. The exposure of chromium-contaminated water causes severe health hazards. The present work outlines a facile approach to grow polyaniline (PANI) on fruit-waste-derived cellulose (CEL) via oxidative polymerization of aniline; followed by chemical processing with NH4OH to obtain CEL-PANI-EB composites for adsorptive separation-coupled reduction of highly toxic hexavalent chromium oxyanions. The spectroscopic analyses of the CEL-PANI-EB composite before and after adsorption of Cr(VI) oxyanions revealed hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and complexation as major interactive pathways. The adsorbed hexavalent chromium oxyanions are reduced into Cr(III) species by oxidation of PANI-based benzenoid amine into quinoid imine in the CEL-PANI-EB composite. The adsorption of Cr(VI) oxyanions by the CEL-PANI-EB composite showed negligible effects of other anionic co-pollutants, like NO3- and SO42-. The CEL-PANI-EB composite adsorbed Cr(VI) oxyanions with a removal capacity of 469 mg g-1, based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The hydroxyl functionalities in cellulose and amine/imine functionalities in PANI facilitate the electrostatic attraction between the CEL-PANI-EB and Cr(VI) oxyanions in an acidic environment beside the hydrogen linkages. The adsorbed Cr(VI) oxyanions are reduced to Cr(III)-based species by the benzenoid amines of PANI, as revealed from the XPS analyses. The CEL-PANI-EB composite showed excellent recyclability and maintained 83.4% adsorption efficiency after seven runs of chromium adsorption-desorption. The current findings reveal the potential of CEL-PANI-EB composites for the adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) oxyanions and their conversion into a lesser toxic form, making them promising materials for wastewater treatment applications.

Magnetically separable Co0.6Fe2.4O4/MIL-101-NH2 adsorbent for Congo red efficient removal

The development of effective and practical adsorbents for eliminating pollutants still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we synthesized a novel magnetically separable composite, Co0.6Fe2.4O4/MIL-101-NH2, through the in-situ growth of MIL-101-NH2 on magnetic nanoparticles, designed specifically for the removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. MIL-101-NH2 possessed high BET surface area (240.485 m2•g-1) and facile magnetic separation function and can be swiftly separated (within 30 s) through an external magnetic field post-adsorption. The investigation systematically explored the influence of crucial parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH, adsorption duration, temperature, and the presence of interfering ions, on CR adsorption performance. Findings indicate that CR adsorption adheres to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic analysis reveals the spontaneity, endothermic nature, and orderly progression of the adsorption process. Remarkably, the adsorbent with 0.1 g•L-1 boasts an impressive maximum adsorption capacity of 1756.19 mg•g-1 for CR at 298.15 K, establishing its competitive advantage. The reuse of the adsorbent over 5 cycles remains 78% of the initial adsorption. The CR adsorption mechanisms were elucidated, emphasizing the roles of π-π interactions, electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and metal coordination. Comparison with other dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), and exploration of adsorption performance in binary dye systems, demonstrates the superior capacity and selectivity of this adsorbent for CR. In conclusion, our magnetically separable metal-organic framework (MOF)based composite presents a versatile and effective solution for CR removal, with promising applications in water treatment and environmental remediation.

DOTA functionalized adsorbent DOTA@Sludge@Chitosan derived from recycled shrimp shells and sludge and its application for lead and chromium removal from water

DOTA@Sludge@Chitosan was synthesized by a facile treatment using DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N,N'-tetraacetic acid) to modify dry sludge and chitosan in an acidic solution. The performance of developed DOTA@Sludge@Chitosan was investigated for the adsorptive removal of Cr6+ and Pb2+ from water. Characterization studies showed that the materials possess a large surface area (52.009 m2/g), pore volume (0.069 cm3/g), and abundant functional groups of amino and hydroxyl. The prepared material showed a synergetic effect due to carboxylic acid and sludge, effectively removing Cr6+ and Pb2+. It reached 329.4 mg/g (Pb2+) and 273.3 mg/g (Cr6+) at 20 °C, much higher than commercial activated carbon. The regeneration of the adsorbent was tested for six adsorption and desorption cycles. The results demonstrate that the DOTA@Sludge@Chitosan adsorbent well-maintained high adsorption capacity attributed to its stability, making it a promising adsorbent for heavy metals removal from industrial effluent.

Sorption enhancement of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by polyaniline confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous hydrogel

Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is a typical harmful pollutant, which is carcinogenic or mutagenic to aquatic animals and humans. In this study, sepiolite/humic acid/polyvinyl alcohol@ polyaniline (SC/HA/PVA@PANI) composite porous hydrogel adsorbent was synthesized by Pickering emulsion template in situ chemical oxidative polymerization for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The in situ polymerization of aniline at the Pickering emulsion interface and the unique three-dimensional network structure of the hydrogel act as an effective "confinement" for the growth of the polymer. The porous structure of the material acts as a water channel, which effectively accelerates the binding of the adsorbate to the adsorption sites, and significantly improves the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity of PANI for Cr(VI) confined in three-dimensional network of composite porous SC/HA/PVA@PANI hydrogel reached 1180.97 mg/g-PANI, which increased about 27-fold compared the adsorption capacity of pure PANI (43.48 mg/g). It is shown that the experimental design effectively avoids the agglomeration of PANI and improves its potential adsorption performance. In addition, the analysis of FESEM-EDX, FT-IR, and XPS spectra before and after adsorption confirmed that the main adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) on SC/HA/PVA@PANI included ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, and redox reaction. In conclusion, SC/HA/PVA@PANI has good stability and excellent adsorption performance, which is a new type of Cr(VI) ion adsorbent with great potential.

An ultralight and flexible nanofibrillated cellulose/chitosan aerogel for efficient chromium removal: Adsorption-reduction process and mechanism

Heavy metals in water are critical global environmental problems. In particular, the anionic heavy metal chromium (Cr) has carcinogenic and genotoxic risks on human health. To this end, an ultralight and flexible nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)/chitosan (CS) aerogel was developed only by freeze-drying combined with physical thermal cross-linking for efficient one step co-removal of Cr(VI) and Cr(III). The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) and total Cr calculated according to the Langmuir model was 197.33 and 134.12 mg/g, respectively. Even in the presence of competing soluble organics, anions and oil contaminants, the resulting NFC/CS-5 aerogels showed excellent selectivity. The aerogel exhibited outstanding mechanical integrity, remaining intact after 17 compressions in air and underwater. Meanwhile, after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles, the aerogel was easy to regenerate and maintained a high regeneration efficiency of 80.25%. Importantly, self-assembled NFC/CS-5 aerogel filter connected with the peristaltic pump could purify 752 mL of industrial wastewater with Cr(VI) pre-concentration capacity of 49.71 mg/g. XPS and FT-IR verified that electrostatic interactions, reduction and complexation acted as the main driving forces for the adsorption process. Moreover, such aerogel possessed broad application prospects for alleviating heavy metal pollution in agriculture.

Formation Features of Polymer-Metal-Carbon Ternary Electromagnetic Nanocomposites Based on Polyphenoxazine

Novel ternary hybrid polyphenoxazine (PPOA)-derived nanocomposites involving Co-Fe particles and single-walled (SWCNTs) or multi-walled (MWCNTs) carbon nanotubes were prepared and investigated. An efficient one-pot method employing infrared (IR) heating enabled the formation of Co-Fe/CNT/PPOA nanocomposites. During this, the dehydrogenation of phenoxazine (POA) units led to the simultaneous reduction of metals by released hydrogen, yielding bimetallic Co-Fe particles with a size range from the nanoscale (5-30 nm) to the microscale (400-1400 nm). The synthesized Co-Fe/CNT/PPOA nanomaterials exhibited impressive thermal stability, demonstrating a half-weight loss at 640 °C and 563 °C in air for Co-Fe/SWCNT/PPOA and Co-Fe/MWCNT/PPOA, respectively. Although a slightly broader range of saturation magnetization values was obtained using MWCNTs, it was found that the type of carbon nanotube, whether an SWCNT (22.14-41.82 emu/g) or an MWCNT (20.93-44.33 emu/g), did not considerably affect the magnetic characteristics of the resulting nanomaterial. By contrast, saturation magnetization escalated with an increasing concentration of both cobalt and iron. These nanocomposites demonstrated a weak dependence of electrical conductivity on frequency. It is shown that the conductivity value for hybrid nanocomposites is higher compared to single-polymer materials and becomes higher with increasing CNT content.

Recent advances in conducting polymer-based magnetic nanosorbents for dyes and heavy metal removal: fabrication, applications, and perspective

Globally, treating and disposing of industrial pollutants is a techno-economic challenge. Industries' large production of harmful heavy metal ions (HMIs) and dyes and inappropriate disposal worsen water contamination. Much attention is required on the development of efficient and cost-effective technologies and approaches for removing toxic HMIs and dyes from wastewater as they pose a severe threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems. Due to the proven superiority of adsorption over other alternative methods, various nanosorbents have been developed for the efficient removal of HMIs and dyes from wastewater and aqueous solutions. Being a good adsorbent, conducting polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites (CP-MNCPs) has drawn more attention for HMIs and dye removal. Conductive polymers' pH-responsiveness makes CP-MNCP ideal for wastewater treatment. The composite material absorbed dyes and/or HMIs from contaminated water could be removed by changing the pH. Here, we review the production strategies and applications of CP-MNCPs for HMIs and dye removal. The review also sheds light on the adsorption mechanism, adsorption efficiency, kinetic and adsorption models, and regeneration capacity of the various CP-MNCPs. To date, various modifications to conducting polymers (CPs) have been explored to improve the adsorption properties. It is evident from the literature survey that the combination of SiO₂, graphene oxide (GO), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with CPs-MNCPs enhances the adsorption capacity of nanocomposites to a large extent, so future research should lean toward the development of cost-effective hybrid CPs-nanocomposites.

Crosslinked modified chitosan biopolymer for enhanced removal of toxic Cr(VI) from aqueous solution

Two new crosslinked modified chitosan biopolymers, namely (CTS-VAN) and (Fe₃O₄@CTS-VAN) bioadsorbents were prepared starting from chitosan and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (VAN) in presence of epichlorohydrin. The analytical techniques FT-IR, EDS, XRD, SEM and XPS besides BET surface analysis were utilized for full characterization of the bioadsorbents. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effect of various influencing parameters in Cr (VI) removal such as initial pH, contact time, adsorbent amount and initial Cr (VI) concentration. The adsorption of Cr (VI) was found out to be maximum at pH = 3 for both bioadsorbents. Langmuir isotherm fit well the adsorption process with a maximum adsorption capacity of 188.68 and 98.04 mg/g for CTS-VAN and Fe₃O₄@CTS-VAN, respectively. The adsorption process followed pseudo second-order kinetics with R² values of 1 and 0.9938 for CTS-VAN and Fe₃O₄@CTS-VAN, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that Cr(III) accounted for 83 % of the total Cr bound to bioadsorbents surface, which indicated reductive adsorption was responsible for Cr(VI) removal by the bioadsorbents. Cr(VI) was initially adsorbed on the positively charged surface of the bioadsorbents and reduced to Cr(III) by electrons provided by oxygen-comprising functional groups (e.g., CO), and consequently part of the converted Cr(III) stayed on the surface and the rest released into solution.

Speciation of Hexavalent Chromium in Aqueous Solutions Using a Magnetic Silica-Coated Amino-Modified Glycidyl Methacrylate Polymer Nanocomposite

A new magnetic amino-functionalized polymeric sorbent based on glycidyl methacrylate was synthesized and used in the separation of chromium Cr(VI) oxyanions sorption from aqueous solutions in a static batch system. The kinetic and isothermal parameters of the sorption process were determined. The experimental data were best fitted by a pseudo-second-order model with R² = 0.994 and χ² = 0.004. The sorption process of Cr(VI) removal by amino-functionalized sorbent was controlled by both intraparticle diffusion and liquid film diffusion. The equilibrium results showed that the sorption process is best described by the Freundlich model, followed closely by the Sips isotherm model, with a maximum sorption capacity of 64 mg/g. Quantum chemical modeling revealed that the sorption sites on the sorbent surface are fragments with diethylenetriamine and aminopropyl silane groups that coated the magnetic nanoparticles. The calculations showed that Cr(VI) oxyanions (Cr₂O₇^2-, CrO₄^2- and HCrO₄^-) bind to both sorption sites, with diethylenetriamine centers slightly favored. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra demonstrate that the chromium bound to the sorbent in the form of Cr(III), indicating that the Cr(VI) can be converted on the surface of the sorbent to a less harmful form Cr(III) due to the sorbent's chemical composition.

Optimal preparation of a core-shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent for efficient tetracycline removal

As emerging contaminants, tetracyclines pose a severe threat to aquatic environments and human health. Therefore, developing efficient approaches to remove tetracyclines from water has attracted a large amount of interest. Herein, a novel core-shell structural magnetic nanoadsorbent (FSMAS) was facilely prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS) monomers on the surface of vinyl-modified Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ (FSM). From single factor experiments, the optimal graft copolymerization conditions were concluded to be the following: initiator concentration = 1.2‰, reaction pH = 9, monomer molar ratio = 7 : 3. The surface morphology, microstructure and physicochemical properties of as-prepared FSMAS were fully evaluated by different characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD and VSM. The adsorption performance of FSMAS towards tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was systematically studied by batch adsorption experiments. Results showed that the adsorption capability of the adsorbent was largely enhanced after graft copolymerization. The removal rate of TCH by FSMAS reached 95% at solution pH = 4.0, almost 10 times higher than FSM. Besides, the adsorption process of TCH by FSMAS was very efficient, 75% of pollutant could be adsorbed after only 10 minutes, attributed to the stretch of polymer chains and the strong affinity provided by abundant functional groups. Furthermore, TCH-loaded FSMAS was easily regenerated with HCl solution, the regeneration rate was higher than 80% after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Superior adsorption capability, fast solid-liquid separation speed and satisfactory reusability demonstrated the great potential of FSMAS in practical tetracycline removal.

Simultaneous removal of aqueous same ionic type heavy metals and dyes by a magnetic chitosan/polyethyleneimine embedded hydrophobic sodium alginate composite: Performance, interaction and mechanism

Heavy metals and azo dyes caused huge harm to the aqueous system and human health. A magnetic chitosan/polyethyleneimine embedded hydrophobic sodium alginate composite (MCPS) was designed and prepared to simultaneously remove aqueous same ionic type heavy metals and azo dyes. In mono-polluted system, the optimal pH for Cr(VI), MO (methyl orange), Cu(Ⅱ) and MB (methylene blue) were 3, 2, 6 and 12 with a saturated adsorption capacity of 87.53, 66.41, 351.03 and 286.54 mg/g, respectively. Pseudo-second-order was suitable to describe the adsorption kinetics of them and the adsorption isotherms were more consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model being a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing process. In binary-polluted system, MCPS possessed simultaneous adsorption for Cr (Ⅵ)-MO and Cu(Ⅱ)-MB pollutants at their optimal pH, in addition, whether in anionic or cationic solution, the removal of heavy metals were promoted with the add of azo dyes but the removal of azo dyes were suppressed with the add of heavy metals. Both Cr (Ⅵ)-MO and Cu(Ⅱ)-MB pollutants could be effectively adsorbed and desorbed from MCPS by changing the pH of the aqueous solution to realize recyclability. Lastly, removal mechanism was revealed in detail by FT-IR, EDS and XPS.

Synthesis of graphene oxide-modified porous chitosan cross-linked polyaniline composite for static and dynamic removal of Cr(VI)

A novel ternary composite was synthesized comprising graphene oxide-modified porous chitosan cross-linked polyaniline (GO@CS-PANI) by improved Hummers method, followed by cross-linking and grafting. The morphological, structural, and electrical properties of the composite were characterized by FESEM, BET, XRD, RAMAN, FTIR spectra, and zeta potential. It was found that the composite shows excellent Cr(VI) removal performance both in static and dynamic adsorption. The optimal adsorption parameters were solution at pH of 2.0, adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g/L, time of 45 min, and temperature of 35 °C. The Langmuir isotherm model was the best-fitted model, indicating homogeneous adsorption with maximum uptake of 539.83 mg/g. Pseudo-second-order was the best-fitted kinetic model, and the rate was controlled by film diffusion. Thermodynamic data demonstrated that the process was spontaneous, endothermic, and feasible. From the dynamic study, it was witnessed that a lower flow rate and a higher bed height were suitable for maximum adsorption performance. The Thomas model was the best-fitted model for data obtained from the dynamic study. Competition from interfering ions showed that anions have little effect on Cr(VI) removal, whereas cations have no such effect. The adsorption mechanism involved electrostatic attraction, π-π interaction, ion exchange, and metal ion complexion. After five cycles of adsorption-desorption study, the composite still removed 76% Cr(VI). These findings of the present study and the reusable nature of GO@CS-PANI composite signify the innovative and excellent adsorbent for wastewater treatment.

Preparation of a sulfonated coal@ZVI@chitosan-acrylic acid composite and study of its removal of groundwater Cr(VI)

In this research, a new composite adsorbent (SC@ZVI@CS-AA) was designed and synthesized, and its application for the removal of Cr(VI) in groundwater was investigated. The interaction between SC@ZVI@CS-AA and Cr(VI) conformed to a pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption process was dominated by chemisorption. The effects of material ratios, pH, temperature, SC@ZVI@CS-AA dosage, and coexisting ions on the removal of Cr(VI) were investigated. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by SC@ZVI@CS-AA reached 95%, and the reaction was significantly inhibited when SO₄^2- was present. Thermodynamically, the adsorption of Cr(VI) proceeded spontaneously above 35 °C (ΔG^θ < 0). According to scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and synchronous thermal analysis, the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) by SC@ZVI@CS-AA was attributed to electrostatic attraction and reduction. In addition, SC@ZVI@CS-AA had good cyclic adsorption performance. Overall, the SC@ZVI@CS-AA composite showed great potential in the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater.

The superior performance of silica gel supported nano zero-valent iron for simultaneous removal of Cr (VI)

Pure nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) was fabricated under optimum conditions based on material production yield and its efficiency toward acid blue dye-25 decolorization. The optimum prepared bare NZVI was immobilized with two different supports of silica and starch to fabricate their composites nanomaterials. The three different prepared zero-valent iron-based nanomaterials were evaluated for removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The silica-modified NZVI recorded the most outstanding removal efficiency for Cr(VI) compared to pristine NZVI and starch-modified NZVI. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) was improved under acidic conditions and decreased with raising the initial concentration of Cr(VI). The co-existence of cations, anions, and humic acid reduced Cr(VI) removal efficiency. The removal efficiency was ameliorated from 96.8% to 100% after adding 0.75 mM of H₂O₂. The reusability of silica-modified NZVI for six cycles of Cr(VI) removal was investigated and the removal mechanism was suggested as the physicochemical process. Based on Langmuir isotherm, the maximal Cr(VI) removal capacity attained 149.25 mg/g. Kinetic and equilibrium data were efficiently fitted using the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively confirming the proposed mechanism. Diffusion models affirmed that the adsorption rate was governed by intraparticle diffusion. Adsorption thermodynamic study suggested the spontaneity and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. This study sheds light on the technology that has potential for magnetic separation and long-term use for effective removal of emerging water pollutants.

Efficient adsorption of heavy metals from wastewater on nanocomposite beads prepared by chitosan and paper sludge

Chitosan was commonly used with inorganic salt and organic compounds to prepare adsorption material for water treatment. Different materials were mixed for the preparation, leading to a high cost for water treatment. Sludge from papermaking has abundant fiber and inorganic salt, which can reduce the addition of raw materials in preparing the adsorption material and thus lower the cost. This work used recycled industrial paper sludge to prepare adsorption material to remove heavy metals from wastewater. The adsorption properties of the prepared sludge-chitosan material for Cu²⁺ and Cr³⁺ in wastewater were investigated. The impacts of adsorption time, pH, and initial concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Cr³⁺ on adsorption amount were studied and optimized. The saturated adsorption capacity of sludge-chitosan material for Cu²⁺ and Cr³⁺ can reach 114.6 and 110.3 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics satisfied the pseudo-second-order model, indicating two modes, physical diffusion, and chem-sorption, in the heavy metal adsorption by the sludge-chitosan materials. Physical distribution has little Effect on chemical adsorption. The materials can be applied to treating Cu²⁺ and Cr³⁺ containing wastewater with the proposed cheap and readily available sludge-chitosan material. The results confirmed that sludge-chitosan material possessed good regeneration performance and was an ideal adsorbent.

Carbide-derived carbon as an extraordinary material for the removal of chromium from an aqueous solution

In the present work, the adsorptive removal of chromium (Cr) from water by carbide-derived carbon (CDC) was investigated. The morphology and structure of the CDC were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, and N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements. The effect of adsorption parameters including contact time, initial Cr concentration, temperature, initial solution pH, and CDC dosage was examined on the removal of Cr ions. The kinetic analysis revealed that the experimental data on the removal of Cr ions on CDC is well correlated with the pseudo-second order kinetic model (with R² > 0.999), while the equilibrium data were fitted by the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model (with R² > 0.992). The Langmuir and Sips models were also in good compliance with the equilibrium data, indicating a monolayer coverage of Cr ions onto the CDC surface with some heterogeneous active adsorption sites. The CDC revealed a notable Langmuir adsorption capacity of 159.1 mg/g for Cr ions at pH 6 and room temperature. The thermodynamic analysis illustrated that the Cr ions elimination by CDC is a feasible adsorption process and endothermic in nature. After five adsorption/desorption cycles, less than 18% reduction in the adsorption capacity was obtained indicating the stability and reusability of the CDC. Moreover, the CDC demonstrated an excellent potential in removing the Cr ions from real brackish water. According to the adsorption data, both physical and chemical adsorption processes occurred, and the adsorption was mainly controlled by electrostatic interactions with a possible reduction of hexavalent Cr to trivalent Cr at acidic conditions.

Selective reduction of nitrite to nitrogen by polyaniline-carbon nanotubes composite at neutral pH

The selective reduction of nitrite (NO₂^-) to nitrogen by chemical reductant is a desirable strategy to remove NO₂^- from polluted water and wastewater. However, the residue and reuse of chemical reductant are two main issues to be addressed. Herein, a novel polyaniline-carbon nanotubes composite (PANI-CNTs) was developed by in-situ polymerization to selectively reduce NO₂^- to nitrogen gas (N₂). The used PANI-CNTs could be reused after regeneration with NaBH₄. The PANI-CNTs could reduce NO₂^- with 93.9% N₂ selectivity at initial pH of 6.8. The NO₂^- removal efficiency only decreased by 12.08% after five cycles of reduction/regeneration. The interconversion between imine nitrogen (-N) and amine nitrogen (-NH-) groups induced the chemical reduction of NO₂^- and regeneration of PANI-CNTs. PANI-CNTs exhibited an excellent performance for the removal of NO₂^- in the presence of competitive ions and in actual water and wastewater samples. This new PANI-CNTs composite may have great potential for water purification and wastewater denitrification.

Kinetic and Isothermal Investigations on the Use of Low Cost Coconut Fiber-Polyaniline Composites for the Removal of Chromium from Wastewater

Pollution due to various heavy metals is increasing at an alarming rate. Removal of hexavalent chromium from the environment is a significant and challenging issue due to its toxic effects on the ecosystem. Development of a low-cost adsorbent with better adsorption efficiency is presently required. In this study, waste coconut fibers (CF) were used to prepare its composite with polyaniline (PANI) via in-situ oxidation. The obtained composites with varying loading of PANI (15, 25, 50, and 75% w/w) were characterized by FE-SEM, TGA, and FTIR spectroscopy. The prepared composites were evaluated for their adsorption performance for removal of Cr(VI). It was concluded that the composite with 50% w/w polyaniline loading on coconut fiber exhibited a maximum adsorption efficiency of 93.11% in 30 min. The effect of pH, dosage, and concentration of the aqueous solution of chromium on the Cr(VI) adsorption efficiency of the composite was also studied. From the optimization studies it was observed that the absorbents exhibited the best adsorption response for Cr(VI) removal with 0.25 mg/mL adsorbent at pH 4, in 30 min. The effect of pH, dosage, and concentration of the aqueous solution of chromium on the Cr(VI) adsorption efficiency of the composite was also studied. This study highlights the application of low-cost adsorbent as a potential candidate for the removal of hexavalent chromium. A detailed study on the adsorption kinetics and isothermal analysis was conducted for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution using coconut fiber-polyaniline composite. From the kinetic investigation, the adsorption was found to follow the pseudo second order model. The data obtained were best fitted to the Elovich model confirming the chemisorption of the Cr(VI) on coconut polymer composites. The analysis of the isothermal models indicated monolayer adsorption based on the Langmuir adsorption model.

Glutaraldehyde base-cross-linked chitosan-silanol/Fe3O4 composite for removal of heavy metals and bacteria

We designed and synthesised a magnetic adsorbent (Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu) combining chitosan-silanol groups with glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent, which has improved physicochemical properties and can be used to remove multiple heavy metals and bacteria from polluted water. The adsorbent was characterised with SEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, VSM, and zeta potential. Under optimum conditions, the adsorption efficiencies of Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu for Cr⁶⁺, As⁵⁺, Hg²⁺, and Se⁶⁺ were as high as 90.5%, 73.5%, 91.6%, and 100% respectively. In addition, Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) can be removed after 2-4 adsorption cycles with 2.5 mg Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu. The main adsorption mechanism of the adsorbent for heavy metals and bacteria is electrostatic adsorption. Overall, the synthesised Fe₃O₄@Si-OH@CS-Glu adsorbent showed high removal efficiency and adsorption capacity with a stable structure and easy separation. It has promising applications for the removal of heavy metals and bacteria from water.

Chromium toxicity and its remediation by using endophytic bacteria and nanomaterials: A review

Chromium (Cr) is a crucial element for all life forms. Various anthropogenic activities have been responsible for environmental contamination with Cr (VI) in recent years. For this review, articles were collected using electronic databases such as Web of Science, Pubmed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar as per the guidelines of PRISMA-2015, applying the Boolean search methods. Chromium can cause severe health complications in humans and animals and threatens the surrounding environment, with negative impacts on crop yield, development, and quality. Hence, monitoring Cr contamination is essential, and various remediation technologies have emerged in the past 50 years to reduce the amount of Cr in the environment. This review focuses on chromium exposure and the associated environmental health risks. We also reviewed sustainable remediation processes, with emphasis on nanoparticle and endophytic remediation processes.

Cyclic enrichment of chromium based on valence state transformation in metal-free photocatalytic reductive imprinted composite hydrogel

Cr (VI) exists in anion form and can be reduced to positive charged Cr (III) under certain conditions. Can positive charged Cr (III) be continually used for absorbing Cr (VI) to achieve cyclic accumulation of chromium? In this paper, an ion imprinting material for adsorption of Cr (VI) was prepared by dispersing polypyrrole (PPy) in a gelatin/chitosan (Gel/CS) hydrogel network, named Gel/CS/PPy. Based on the conversion of Cr (VI) to Cr (III), a cyclic enrichment process including adsorption-photoreduction-fixation-readsorption of Cr (VI) was established in Gel/CS/PPy hydrogel. The composition and structure of the Gel/CS/PPy were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TGA), texture analyzer (Universal TA), zeta potential and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectra (UV-vis-NIR). The conversion of Cr (VI) and Cr (III) and its promoting effect on readsorption were verified by XPS. The results showed that Gel/CS/PPy has good adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) and excellent photocatalytic ability to reduce Cr (VI) to Cr (III). Cr (III)-loaded Gel/CS/PPy can be further used to adsorb Cr (VI) and showed good adsorption efficiency even after four cycles. The optimal operating condition for Cr (VI) adsorption is pH = 3; 2 g/L dose of Gel/CS/PPy; and the adsorption capacity of Cr (VI) was about 106.8 mg/g after six adsorption cycles. Since Gel/CS/PPy is composed of organic components, high purity chromium can be recovered by simple calcination method later. Therefore, the synthesized Gel/CS/PPy has great potential in the practical application of low concentration Cr (VI) treatment in water.

Arsenic in drinking water: overview of removal strategies and role of chitosan biosorbent for its remediation

Accessibility to clean drinking water often remains a crucial task at times. Among other water pollutants, arsenic is considered a more lethal contaminant and has become a serious threat to human life globally. This review discussed the sources, chemistry, distribution, and toxicity of arsenic and various conventional technologies that are in option for its removal from the water system. Nowadays, biosorbents are considered the best option for arsenic-contaminated water treatment. We have mainly focused on the need and potential of biosorbents especially the role of chitosan-based composites for arsenic removal. The chitosan-based sorbents are economically more efficient in terms of their, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, eco-friendly nature, and reusability. The role of various modification techniques, such as physical and chemical, has also been evaluated to improve the physicochemical properties of biosorbent. The importance of adsorption kinetic and isotherm models and the role of solution pH and pHPZC for arsenic uptake from the polluted water have also been investigated. Some other potential applications of chitosan-based biosorbents have also been discussed along with its sustainability aspect. Finally, some suggestions have been highlighted for further improvements in this field.

Pinecone-derived magnetic porous hydrochar co-activated by KHCO3 and K2FeO4 for Cr(VI) and anthracene removal from water

Herein, magnetic porous pinecone-derived hydrochar (MPHC_MW) co-activated by KHCO₃ and K₂FeO₄ through one-step microwave-assisted pyrolysis was innovatively synthesized for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and anthracene (ANT) removal from water. The analyses of characterization consequences and co-activation mechanisms not merely proved the high specific surface area (703.97 m²/g) and remarkable microporous structures of MPHC_MW caused by the synergistic chemical activation of KHCO₃ and K₂FeO₄, but also testified successful loading of Fe⁰ and Fe₃O₄ on MPHC_MW by the process of carbothermal reduction between K₂FeO₄ and carbon matrix of hydrochar. The resultant MPHC_MW possessed pH-dependence for Cr(VI), while adsorption for ANT was hardly impacted by the pH of solution. Moreover, the adsorption processes of MPHC_MW could attain equilibrium within 60 min for Cr(VI) and 30 min for ANT with multiple kinetics, and the corresponding adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) and ANT was 128.15 and 60.70 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, the adsorption percentages of MPBC_MW for Cr(VI)/ANT was maintained at 87.87/82.64% after three times of adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, pore filling, complexation, electrostatic interaction, reduction and ion exchange were testified to enhance the removal of Cr(VI), while the ANT removal was achieved via π-π stacking, complexation, pore filling and hydrogen bonding force.

Two-step ball milling-assisted synthesis of N-doped biochar loaded with ferrous sulfide for enhanced adsorptive removal of Cr(Ⅵ) and tetracycline from water

Nitrogen-doped biochar loaded with FeS (FeS@NBC_BM) was synthesized by two-step ball milling processes. Characterization results revealed that N-doping process successfully introduced pyridinic, pyrrolic, and graphitic N structures, and FeS was subsequently embedded in N-doped biochar (NBC_BM). The resultant FeS@NBC_BM presented predominant adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) (194.69 mg/g) and tetracycline (TC, 371.29 mg/g) compared with BC (27.28 and 37.89 mg/g) and NBC_BM (71.26 and 81.26 mg/g). In addition, the Cr(VI)/TC elimination process by FeS@NBC_BM was basically stable with multiple co-existing ions with slight decrease on adsorption performance after three desorption-regeneration cycles. Most importantly, FeS@NBC_BM was found to achieve Cr(VI) elimination not only by electrostatic attraction, ion exchange and complexation, but also by electrons-triggered reduction provided by different species of N, Fe²⁺ as well as S(Ⅱ). Meantime, pore filling, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking interactions were demonstrated to contribute to TC adsorption. These results suggested the co-modification of N-doping and FeS loading by ball milling as an innovative decorating method for biochar to adsorptive purification of Cr(VI) and TC-contaminated water.

Co-Removal Effect and Mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) by Biochar-Supported Sulfide-Modified Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron in a Binary System

This study aimed to explore the co-removal effect and mechanism of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) with an optimized synthetic material. The toxicity and accumulation characteristics of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) encountered in wastewater treatment areas present significant challenges. In this work, a rational assembly of sulfide-modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (SnZVI) was introduced into a biochar (BC), and a Cr(VI)–Cd(II) binary system adsorbent with high efficiency was synthesized. When the preparation temperature of the BC was 600 °C, the molar ratio of S/Fe was 0.3, the mass ratio of BC/SnZVI was 1, and the best adsorption capacities of BC-SnZVI for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in the binary system were 58.87 mg/g and 32.55 mg/g, respectively. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of BC-SnZVI on the Cr(VI)-Cd(II) binary system was revealed in depth by co-removal experiments, indicating that the coexistence of Cd(II) could promote the removal of Cr(VI) by 9.20%, while the coexistence of Cr(VI) could inhibit the removal of Cd(II) by 43.47%. This work provides a new pathway for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in binary systems, suggesting that BC-SnZVI shows great potential for the co-removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in wastewater.

Polypyrrole supported Pd/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity for simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol and Cr(VI)

Nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) represents a promising reduction technology for water remediation, but its broad application is largely hampered by the tendency of nZVI to aggregate and the low electron transferability due to the interfacial charge resistance. Herein, by combining the advantages of polypyrrole (PPY) and nZVI, we prepared a composite material (i.e., PPY supported palladium‑iron bimetallic nanoparticles (Pd/Fe@PPY)) and applied it for the simultaneous removal of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and Cr(VI). Our results showed that this material had superior catalytic performances with a complete removal of 4-CP (50 mg·L^-1) and Cr(VI) (10 mg·L^-1) within 60 and 1 min, respectively. As opposed to the bare Pd/Fe nanoparticles, the reactivity of Pd/Fe@PPY with 4-CP was significantly enhanced by nearly 8 times. The enhanced catalytic activity of Pd/Fe@PPY was attributed to the distinctive properties of PPY as i) a good support that resulted in the formation of Pd/Fe nanoparticles with high dispersibility; ii) an adsorbent that increased the accessibility of 4-CP and Cr(VI) with electrons or active species (e.g., H*) on the particles surface; iii) an electron transfer carrier that facilitated the reactivity of Pd/Fe@PPY with contaminants by reducing the interfacial charge resistance. Moreover, by conducting cyclic voltammetry and quenching investigations, we showed that two mechanisms (i.e., direct and H*-mediated indirect electron transfer) were involved in the reductive dehalogenation of 4-CP, while catalytic hydrodechlorination played a dominant role. This work offers an alternative material for the efficient removal of 4-CP and Cr(VI) and provides better understanding of the relationship between structure and catalytic activity of nZVI.

Novel Hybrid Nanomaterials Based on Poly-N-Phenylanthranilic Acid and Magnetic Nanoparticles with Enhanced Saturation Magnetization

A one-step preparation method for cobalt- and iron-containing nanomaterials based on poly-N-phenylanthranilic acid (P-N-PAA) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) was developed for the first time. To synthesize the MNP/P-N-PAA nanocomposites, the precursor is obtained by dissolving a Co (II) salt in a magnetic fluid based on Fe3O4/P-N-PAA with a core-shell structure. During IR heating of the precursor in an inert atmosphere at T = 700−800 °C, cobalt interacts with Fe3O4 reduction products, which results in the formation of a mixture of spherical Co-Fe, γ-Fe, β-Co and Fe3C nanoparticles of various sizes in the ranges of 20 < d < 50 nm and 120 < d < 400 nm. The phase composition of the MNP/P-N-PAA nanocomposites depends significantly on the cobalt concentration. The reduction of metals occurs due to the hydrogen released during the dehydrogenation of phenylenamine units of the polymer chain. The introduction of 10−30 wt% cobalt in the composition of nanocomposites leads to a significant increase in the saturation magnetization of MNP/P-N-PAA (MS = 81.58−149.67 emu/g) compared to neat Fe3O4/P-N-PAA (MS = 18.41−27.58 emu/g). The squareness constant of the hysteresis loop is κS = MR/MS = 0.040−0.209. The electrical conductivity of the MNP/P-N-PAA nanomaterials does not depend much on frequency and reaches 1.2 × 10−1 S/cm. In the argon flow at 1000 °C, the residue is 77−88%.

Water-based ferrofluid with tunable stability and its significance in nuclear wastewater treatment

The treatment of nuclear wastewater is one of the most urgent and arduous tasks currently, but traditional adsorption materials are significantly limited in practice due to their high demands on auxiliary operations (e.g., shaking or centrifugation) caused by poor stability or recyclability. To tackle this challenge, a water-based ferrofluid composed of magnetic nanoparticles grown in polyethylenimine branches is reported and applied to nuclear wastewater treatment. It is demonstrated that the ferrofluid can keep stable spontaneously in a wide pH range (3-11) out of their ultra-small size, strong electropositivity as well as high charge buffering capacity to achieve shaker-free adsorption, and can be magnetically separated after the neutralization of their positive charge to achieve convenient recycle. Meanwhile, it is found that the ferrofluid shows wide pH/adsorbate applicability and strong ion selectivity in radionuclides absorption. Furthermore, it is anticipated to achieve maximum adsorption capacities for U(VI), Sr(II) and Co(II) as high as 331.5, 427.8 and 759.6 mg/g, respectively. With these characteristics, this ferrofluid outperforms other reported adsorbents. In conclusion, this work provides a practical and effective radioactive wastewater treatment strategy, and enlightens the development of materials for other applications facing the dilemma of incompatible stability and recyclability.

Metallic nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of toxic hexavalent chromium from aqueous medium: A state-of-the-art review

The ever increasing concentration of toxic and carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) in various environmental mediums including water-bodies due to anthropogenic activities with rapid civilization and industrialization have become the major issue throughout the globe during last few decades. Therefore, developing new strategies for the treatment of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewaters are in great demand and have become a topical issue in academia and industry. To date, various techniques have been used for the remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewaters including solvent extraction, adsorption, catalytic reduction, membrane filtration, biological treatment, coagulation, ion exchange and photo-catalytic reduction. Among these methods, the transformation of highly toxic Cr(VI) to benign Cr(III) catalyzed by metallic nanoparticles (M-NPs) with reductant has gained increasing attention in the past few years, and is considered to be an effective approach due to the superior catalytic performance of M-NPs. Thus, it is a timely topic to review this emerging technique for Cr(VI) reduction. Herein, recent development in synthesis of M-NPs based non-supported, supported, mono-, bi- and ternary M-NPs catalysts, their characterization and performance for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) are reviewed. The role of supporting host to stabilize the M-NPs and leading to enhance the reduction of Cr(VI) are discussed. The Cr(VI) reduction mechanism, kinetics, and factors affecting the kinetics are overviewed to collect the wealthy kinetics data. Finally, the challenges and perspective in Cr(VI) reduction catalyzed by M-NPs are proposed. We believe that this review will assist the researchers who are working to develop novel M-NPs catalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI).

Research progress in the removal of heavy metals by modified chitosan

Chitosan and its modifiers have been widely studied for their good biocompatibility and excellent adsorption properties for heavy metal ions. The synthesis and application of modified chitosan, the effects of process variables (such as pH, amount of adsorbent, temperature, contact time, etc.), adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics and the adsorption mechanism on the removal of heavy metal ions are reviewed. The purpose is to provide the latest information about chitosan as adsorbent and to promote the synthesis of modified chitosan and its application in the removal of heavy metals.

Bioremediation of hexavalent-chromium contaminated groundwater: Microcosm, column, and microbial diversity studies

Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) have the capability of bioreducing hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] to trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] under sulfate-reducing conditions for toxicity reduction. However, a high amount of sulfate addition would cause elevated sulfide production, which could inhibit the growth of SRB and result in reduced Cr(VI) bioreduction efficiency. A slow release reagent, viscous carbon and sulfate-releasing colloidal substrates (VCSRCS), was prepared for a long-lasting carbon and sulfate supplement. In the column study, VCSRCS was injected into the column system to form a VCSRCS biobarrier for Cr(VI) containment and bioreduction. A complete Cr(VI) removal was observed via the adsorption and bioreduction mechanisms in the column with VCSRCS addition. Results from X-ray diffractometer analyses indicate that Cr(OH)_3(s) and Cr₂O_3(s) were detected in precipitates, indicating the occurrence of Cr(VI) reduction followed by Cr(III) precipitation. Results from the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses show that cell deposits carried functional groups, which could adsorb Cr. Addition of VCSRCS caused increased populations of total bacteria and dsrA, which also enhanced Cr(VI) reduction. Microbial diversity results indicate that VCSRCS addition resulted in the growth of Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria including Exiguobacterium, Citrobacter, Aerococcus, and SRB. Results of this study will be helpful in developing an effective and green VCSRCS biobarrier for the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater.

Removal of Cr(VI) by polyaniline embedded polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate beads - Extension from water treatment to soil remediation

Efficient nano-scale chromium (Cr) remediating agents used in the water industry may find their application in soil difficult because of the strong aggregation effect. In this study, a millimeter-sized PANI/PVA/SA composite (PPS) was synthesized by embedding polyaniline (PANI) into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/sodium alginate (SA) gel beads. Additionally, the PPS was used to recover hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contaminated water and soil to study the remediation impacts and mechanism. Results showed that the PPS was an irregular sphere with a pore size of 24.24 nm and exhibited strong adsorption capacity (83.1 mg/g) for removing Cr(VI) in water. The Cr(VI) adsorption by PPS could be well described with the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Redlich-Peterson isotherm model, indicating that the chemical reactions were the controlling step in the Cr(VI) adsorption process. PPS also exhibited excellent physicochemical properties (< 13 mg/L TOC release) and reusability (efficiency of 95.25% after four runs) for Cr(VI) removal. Soil incubation results showed that the 5% PPS (5PPS) treatment could efficiently remove 24.17% of total Cr and 52.47% of Cr(VI) in the contaminated soil after 30 days. Meanwhile, the water-soluble and the leaching Cr contents were decreased by 43.37% and 61.78% in the 5PPS group, respectively. Elemental speciation by XPS revealed that Cr(VI) removal from solution and soil proceeded mainly by electrostatic attraction, reduction, and complexation/chelation. The study implied that PPS could be a useful amendment to remediate both the Cr(VI)-contaminated water and soil.

Nanocrystalline erdite from iron-rich sludge: Green synthesis, characterization and utilization as an efficient adsorbent of hexavalent chromium

A low-temperature hydrothermal process was developed to synthesize erdite adsorbent from a solid waste sludge contained 10.2% Fe, 6.2% Al and 1.4% Si, alongside 59.5% water content. At 90℃, adding Na₂S and NaOH could convert it into erdite nanorods with a diameter of 80 nm and a length of 100 nm. In the sludge, only Fe oxyhydroxide was involved in the formation of erdite, and the other Al/Si-bearing compounds were dissolved in an alkaline medium. The dissolved Al/Si-bearing compounds were further removed, forming faujasite so that the used medium was purified and then entirely recycled into the next conversion stage. No secondary waste was generated in the pilot-scale conversion, and the adsorption efficiency of the prepared products to wastewater with a high initial Cr(VI) concentration of 1000 mg/L was more than 99.5%. The adsorption data complied with the pseudo-second-order kinetics. During the wastewater treatment, hexavalent chromium anion diffused to erdite surface and replaced OH/SH groups of adjacent structural Fe to form a stable complex ligand. In addition, the redox reaction between hexavalent chromium and the -SH group occurred to generate a trivalent chromium complex on the Fe/S-bearing flocs surface.

Smart Synthesis of Hollow Microporous Organic Capsules with a Polyaniline Modified Shell

In this work, novel hypercrosslinked polymer-based hollow microporous organic capsules with a polyaniline (PANI)-modified shell (PANI@S-HMOCs) are prepared by in-situ polymerization of aniline in the porous structure of the sulfonated hollow microporous organic capsules (S-HMOCs). PANI@S-HMOC1, PANI@S-HMOC2, and PANI@S-HMOC3 are made by adjusting S-HMOCs and aniline weight ratios of 4:1 and 3:1, and 2:1, respectively. The characterizations of PANI@S-HMOCs demonstrate that electrostatic interaction between aniline and sulfonic acid groups plays an important role in encapsulating PANI in the pores of the shell. The content of PANI showed an evident effect on the porosity of PANI@S-HMOCs, and an appropriate polyaniline loading amount may increase the surface area. PANI@S-HMOC1 and PANI@S-HMOC2 have higher BET surface areas (529 and 503 m² g^-1 ) than S-HMOCs (424 m² g^-1 ), but PANI@S-HMOC3 has lower BET surface area (380 m² g^-1 ). Based on the structural and textural features, PANI@S-HMOC2 shows good adsorption performance for Cr(VI) from aqueous media (156 mg g^-1 , pH = 2, and 27 mg g^-1 , pH = 7).

Removal of antimonite (Sb(III)) from aqueous solution using a magnetic iron-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite: Experimental observations and governing mechanisms

In this study, a novel nanoscale iron oxide (FeO_x) modified carbon nanotubes composite (FeO_x@CNTs) was synthesized through a combined ball milling-hydrothermal two-step method and tested for aqueous Sb(III) removal efficiency and mechanisms. FeO_x nanoparticles was successfully loaded on the surface of CNTs through functional groups such as hydroxyl (-OH), C-H, and C-O to enhance the removal efficiency of Sb(III) through adsorption and surface complexation. At a dosage of 0.02 g, a FeCl₃·6H₂O-to-CNTs mass ratio of 3:1, and an initial solution pH of 6.3, the amount of Sb(III) removed by the prepared FeO_x@CNTs reached 172 mg/g, which was 42.9 times higher than that of the pristine CNTs (4.01 mg/g). Chemical adsorption and oxidation were the main removal mechanisms. At the equilibrium Sb(III) concentration of 6.08 mg/L, 6.56% of initial Sb(III) was adsorbed onto the surface of FeO_x@CNTs, and 81.3% of initial Sb(III) was oxidized to Sb(V) with lower toxicity. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model could better describe the adsorption of Sb(III) onto the FeO_x@CNTs composite, indicating that adsorption was mainly controlled by chemical sorption. In the adsorption isotherm equation, the Redlich-Peterson model provided a better fit of Sb(III) adsorption onto the FeO_x@CNTs composite than the Langmuir and Freundlich models, which further indicated that the adsorption process was a hybrid removal process dominated by chemical sorption. The presence of CO₃^2- slightly promoted the removal of Sb(III) from aqueous solution. The synthesized composite was magnetic and could be easily separated from the solution by an external magnetic field at the end of the sorption experiment. Based on these findings, the FeO_x@CNTs nanocomposite is expected to provide an environmentally-friendly adsorbent with a strong sorption capacity for remediating Sb(III) in water environments.

Wood carbon electrode in microbial fuel cell enhances chromium reduction and bioelectricity generation

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a recommended treatment to remediate hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in wastewater. In this study, a wood carbon (WC) electrode was introduced in MFC to enhance the Cr(VI) removal efficiency. WC electrode in MFC completely removed Cr(VI) as compared to the carbon cloth (31.12%) and carbon felt (34.83) within 48 h of operation at 20 mg L^-1 of Cr(VI) concentration. The maximum power density of WC electrode was 62.59 mW m^-2 higher than 0.115 and 3.154 mW m^-2 of carbon cloth and felt respectively. The specific surface area of WC increased to 158.47 m^-2 g^-1 after high-temperature carbonization, and electrochemical tests indicate it has higher electrocatalytic ability. Therefore, WC might be a good electrode material to effectively remove Cr(VI) and generate bioelectricity simultaneously.