Improvement of metal adsorption onto chitosan/Sargassum sp. composite sorbent by an innovative ion-imprint technology

Confinement of Sustainable Carbon Dots Results in Long Afterglow Emitters and Photocatalyst for Radical Photopolymerization

Sustainable carbon dots based on cellulose, particularly carboxymethyl cellulose carbon dots (CMCCDs), were confined in an inorganic network resulting in CMCCDs@SiO2. This resulted in a material exhibiting long afterglow covering a time frame of several seconds also under air. Temperature-dependent emission spectra gave information on thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) while photocurrent experiments provided a deeper understanding of charge availability in the dark period, and therefore, its availability on the photocatalyst surface. The photo-ATRP initiator, ethyl α-bromophenylacetate (EBPA), quenched the emission from the millisecond to the nanosecond time frame indicating participation of the triplet state in photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Both free radical and controlled radical polymerization based on photo-ATRP protocol worked successfully. Metal-free photo-ATRP resulted in chain extendable macroinitiators based on a reductive mechanism with either MMA or in combination with styrene. Addition of 9 ppm Cu2+ resulted in Mw/Mn of 1.4 while an increase to 72 ppm improved uniformity of the polymers; that is Mw/Mn=1.03. Complementary experiments with kerria laca carbon dots confined materials, namely KCDs@SiO2, provided similar results. Deposition of Cu2+ (9 ppm) on the photocatalyst surface explains better uniformity of the polymers formed in the ATRP protocol.

Determination of chloropropanol esters and glycidyl esters in instant noodles based on solid-phase microextraction with chitosan-β-cyclodextrin coated fiber

We developed a method for the determination of chloropropanol esters and glycidyl esters (GE) in instant noodles using solid-phase microextraction with chitosan-β-cyclodextrin (CS-β-CD) coated fiber coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The developed low-cost fiber coating can improve the sensitivity of the method. Immobilized enzymes can improve operational stability and reusability compared to free enzymes, thereby reducing costs. The adsorption isotherm was modeled using the Langmuir model, while the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order model. The limit of detection was 0.3 ng/L. The method exhibited satisfactory recoveries for the analytes, ranging from 80.2 % to 105.3 %, with relative standard deviations < 9.9 %. Furthermore, the results of the exposure assessment showed that chloropropanol esters do not pose unacceptable risks to different age groups. However, the margin of exposure for GE suggested a potential health risk for populations between the ages of 3 and 12 years old.

Ion-imprinted chitosan prepared without cross-linking agent for efficient selective adsorption of Al(III) from rare earth solution

In the aqueous phase, ion-imprinted materials exhibit excellent selective adsorption properties for specific ions, but their complicated preparation process and large amount of crosslinker consumption limit their application. In this study, ion-imprinted chitosan (IIP-CS) was prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method without a cross-linking agent for the efficient adsorption of trace amounts of Al(III) from a rare earth solution. The structures and morphology of IIP-CS were analyzed by FT-IR, SEM, and XRD. The Al(III) adsorption characteristics of IIP-CS were investigated under various preparation processes and adsorption conditions. It was found that the optimum mass ratio of IIP-CS is 3 : 1 and pH is 3 and the adsorption capacity reaches up to 40.36 mg g-1. In addition, three different isothermal models-Temkin, Freundlich, and Langmuir-were used to analyze the equilibrium adsorption of IIP-CS in aqueous solution. The results obtained are consistent with the Langmuir model. The adsorption process of Al(III) on IIP-CS follows a pseudo-secondary kinetic model, suggesting that electron sharing or exchange between IIP-CS and Al(III) is a key factor affecting its adsorption rate. IIP-CS shows high selectivity coefficients for Al(III) in mixtures of La(III), Y(III), and Gd(III), which are 792.50, 163.26, and 55.16, respectively. The mechanism of action is the formation of a complex via amidation between Al(III) and IIP-CS. IIP-CS is an adsorbent with excellent regeneration and selective adsorption performance in aqueous solution.

Binding of Cd(II) to birnessite and fulvic acid organo-mineral composites and controls on Cd(II) availability

Manganese oxide minerals (MnOs) are major controls on cadmium (Cd) mobility and fate in the environment. However, MnOs are commonly coated with natural organic matter (OM), and the role of this coating in the retention and availability of harmful metals remains unclear. Herein, organo-mineral composites were synthesized using birnessite (BS) and fulvic acid (FA), during coprecipitation with BS and adsorption to preformed BS with two organic carbon (OC) loadings. The performance and underlying mechanism of Cd(II) adsorption by resulting BS-FA composites were explored. Consequently, FA interactions with BS at environmentally representative (5 wt% OC) increase Cd(II) adsorption capacity by 15.05-37.39% (q_m = 156.5-186.9 mg g^-1), attributing to the enhanced dispersion of BS particles by coexisting FA led to significant increases in specific surface area (219.1-254.8 m² g^-1). Nevertheless, Cd(II) adsorption was notably inhibited at a high OC level (15 wt%). This might have derived from the supplementation of FA decreased pore diffusion rate and generated Mn(II/III) competition for vacancy sites. The dominant Cd(II) adsorption mechanism was precipitation with minerals (Cd(OH)₂), and complexation with Mn-O groups and acid oxygen-containing functional groups of FA. In organic ligand extractions, the exchange Cd content decreased by 5.63-7.93% with low OC coating (5 wt%), but increased to 33.13-38.97% at a high OC level (15 wt%). These findings help better understand the environmental behavior of Cd under the interactions of OM and Mn minerals, and provide a theoretical basis for organo-mineral composite remediation of Cd-contaminated water and soil.

Thermoreversible and tunable supramolecular hydrogels based on chitosan and metal cations

A new thermoreversible and tunable hydrogel CS-M with high water content prepared by metal cation (M = Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺) and chitosan (CS) was reported. The influence of metal cations on the thermosensitive gelation of CS-M systems were studied. All prepared CS-M systems were in the transparent and stable sol state and could become the gel state at gelation temperature (T_g). These systems after gelation could recover to its original sol state at low temperature. CS-Cu hydrogel was mainly investigated and characterized due to its large T_g scale (32-80 °C), appropriate pH range (4.0-4.6) and low Cu²⁺ concentration. The result showed that the T_g range was influenced and could be tuned by adjusting Cu²⁺ concentration and system pH within an appropriate range. The influence of anions (Cl^-, NO3^- and Ac^-) in cupric salts in the CS-Cu system was also investigated. Scale application as heat insulation window was investigated outdoors. The different supramolecular interactions of the -NH₂ group in chitosan at different temperatures were proposed to dominate the thermoreversible process of CS-Cu hydrogel.

Amino-Functionalized Hierarchical Porous Carbon Derived from Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Sensing of Heavy Metals in Water

Electrochemical sensing provides a feasible avenue to monitor heavy metal ions (HMIs) in water, whereas the construction of highly sensitive and selective sensors remains challenging. Herein, we fabricated a novel amino-functionalized hierarchical porous carbon by the template-engaged method using ZIF-8 as the precursor and polystyrene sphere as the template, followed by carbonization and controllable chemical grafting of amino groups for efficient electrochemical detection of HMIs in water. The amino-functionalized hierarchical porous carbon features an ultrathin carbon framework with a high graphitization degree, excellent conductivity, unique macro-, meso-, and microporous architecture, and rich amino groups. As a result, the sensor exhibits prominent electrochemical performance with significantly low limits of detection for individual HMIs (i.e., 0.93 nM for Pb²⁺, 2.9 nM for Cu²⁺, and 1.2 nM for Hg²⁺) and simultaneous detection of HMIs (i.e., 0.62 nM for Pb²⁺, 1.8 nM for Cu²⁺, and 0.85 nM for Hg²⁺), which are superior to most reported sensors in the literature. Moreover, the sensor displays excellent anti-interference ability, repeatability, and stability for HMI detection in actual water samples.

Intensification of strontium (II) ion biosorption on Sargassum sp via response surface methodology

A batch system was employed to investigate the biosorption of strontium (II) on Sargassum sp. The biosorption of strontium on Sargassum sp was studied with response surface methodology to determine the combined effect of temperature, initial metal ion concentration, biomass treatment, biosorbent dosage and pH. Under optimal conditions, the algae's biosorption capacity for strontium (initial pH 7.2, initial strontium concentration 300 mg/l for Mg-treated biomass and biosorbent dosage 0.1 g in 100 mL metal solution) was measured at 103.95 mg/g. In our analysis, equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Results show that the best fit is provided by the Freundlich model. Biosorption dynamics analysis of the experimental data indicated that strontium (II) was absorbed into algal biomass in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model well.

Ion-Imprinted Polymeric Materials for Selective Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution

The introduction of selective recognition sites toward certain heavy metal ions (HMIs) is a great challenge, which has a major role when the separation of species with similar physicochemical features is considered. In this context, ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) developed based on the principle of molecular imprinting methodology, have emerged as an innovative solution. Recent advances in IIPs have shown that they exhibit higher selectivity coefficients than non-imprinted ones, which could support a large range of environmental applications starting from extraction and monitoring of HMIs to their detection and quantification. This review will emphasize the application of IIPs for selective removal of transition metal ions (including HMIs, precious metal ions, radionuclides, and rare earth metal ions) from aqueous solution by critically analyzing the most relevant literature studies from the last decade. In the first part of this review, the chemical components of IIPs, the main ion-imprinting technologies as well as the characterization methods used to evaluate the binding properties are briefly presented. In the second part, synthesis parameters, adsorption performance, and a descriptive analysis of solid phase extraction of heavy metal ions by various IIPs are provided.

Purification performance of modified polyacrylonitrile fiber-activated carbon fiber filter for heavy metal ions

A heavy metal ion adsorbent (HFPANF) with high surface area was obtained from polyacrylonitrile fibers with fibrillation and alkali hydrolysis, and an activated carbon fiber filter was prepared by using HFPANF as the binder. The surface area of polyacrylonitrile was 48.64 m²/g due to fibrillation, which also led to the carboxyl content of the HFPANF up to 3.4 mmol/g. Batch adsorption experiments on Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ showed that the adsorption capacities of HFPANF for Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were 47.5 mg/g and 54.3 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption reached equilibrium at 90 min and that the adsorption followed the pseudo-second order model. It indicates that the adsorption process is chemisorption. HFPANF formed a single tooth chelate with Cu and a double tooth chelate with Pb. HFPANF-ACF filter was prepared by wet molding technique. When the HFPANF content was 30%, the filter reached a compressive strength of 15.37 MPa and its maximum flux was 180 L/h. 2.5 mg/L of Cu and Pb were used for dynamic adsorption experiments and the heavy metal removal rate was still above 95% after filtering 600 L. The pressure drop of HFPANF-ACF filter was much smaller compared with that of GAC filter due to the combined effect of fibrillated nanofibers and ACF, which can improve the filtration efficiency of the filter.

Removal of yttrium from rare-earth wastewater by Serratia marcescens: biosorption optimization and mechanisms studies

The discharge of yttrium containing wastewater is a potential risk to human health. Although biosorption is a promising method to remove yttrium from wastewater, whereas the application of it is limited due to the lack of efficient biosorbents. In this study, the removal of yttrium from wastewater using Serratia marcescens as a biosorbent was conducted. The effects of six parameters including pH (2–5.5), initial yttrium concentration (10–110 mg/L), biosorbent dosage (0.1–0.5 g/L), biosorption time (10–700 min), stirring speed (50–300 rpm) and temperature (20–60 °C) were evaluated. The main parameters were optimized using response surface methodology. The results showed that the adsorption capacity reached 123.65 mg/g at the optimized conditions. The biosorption mechanism was revealed based on a combined analysis using field emission transmission electron microscope-energy dispersion spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These results revealed that the hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups were the adsorption functional groups for yttrium ions. Biosorption of yttrium by S. marcescens is under the combination of ion exchange, electrostatic attraction and complexation. These findings indicated that S. marcescens can be used as an efficient biosorbent to remove yttrium from wastewater. In addition, its adsorption capacity can be further improved by the enhancement of adsorption functional groups on the surface through chemical modification.

Highly compressible nanocellulose aerogels with a cellular structure for high-performance adsorption of Cu(II)

Cellulose-based aerogels have considerable potential for various application due to renewable, low cost, and high availability. However, mechanical robustness and functionalization remain major challenges. Here, we synthesized a compressible, recoverable cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) aerogel via electrostatic-modulated interfacial covalent crosslinking and freeze-drying process. The porous BPEI@CNF/CMC aerogel possessed excellent mechanical compression and high-density metal-chelating groups, which exhibited fast adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacity (452.49 mg g^-1) in static copper adsorption process. Furthermore, BPEI@CNF/CMC aerogels displayed excellent recyclability and could still reach 85% after 10 cycles. The integrated analyses of ATR-FTIR and XPS suggested that the predominant adsorption mechanism included electrostatic interaction, ion-exchange and chelation. This strategy provides a sustainable route to fabricate efficient biomass-based adsorbents for selective copper removal from water.

Chitosan immobilization and Fe3O4 functionalization of olive pomace: An eco-friendly and recyclable Pb2+ biosorbent

An effective and sustainable biosorbent (MagOPIC) was prepared from chitosan and olive pomace by the combined action of immobilization and magnetic modification to remediate Pb²⁺-contaminated waters. Pb²⁺ sorption yield at the end of the equilibrium (45 min) period was estimated to be 98.56 ± 0.28% at pH 5.5. Agitation speed, ionic strength, and temperature did not significantly affect the Pb²⁺ biosorption. Biosorption kinetics are successfully fitted by the pseudo-second-order equation while the equilibrium biosorption data are properly modeled using the Freundlich and D-R isotherms. MagOPIC has also exhibited a high biosorption yield in the column tests (≥99%) and showed remarkable stability up to twenty consecutive regeneration cycles. Furthermore, it was successfully used for the treatment of Pb²⁺ containing real wastewater. The findings of this work highlighted the potential use of MagOPIC as a novel, cost-effective and eco-friendly biosorbent for the Pb²⁺ removal from the contaminated aquatic phase.

The influence mechanism of dissolved organic matter on the adsorption of Cd (II) by calcite

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) has been widely existed in the soil, which has great influence on the adsorption of heavy metals by minerals. In this paper, the effects of DOM on Cd (II) adsorption by calcite were studied. In the presence of DOM (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 20 mg/L), the maximum sorption of Cd (II) by calcite reduced from 48.94 mg/g to 44.14 mg/g, 28.11 mg/g, and 22.30 mg/g, respectively. The characterizations (XRD, SEM, XPS, FTIR, 3D-EEM, and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap) were used to further study the mechanism about the effects of DOM on the adsorption of Cd (II) by calcite. These results showed calcite exhibited a significant adsorption capacity for Cd (II) at pH = 6.0, and CdCO₃ was formed on the surface of calcite after calcite reaction with Cd (II). Meanwhile, the fractionation of DOM by calcite could change the binding characteristics of DOM to calcite, which would increase the migration of Cd (II) in the solution. After the reaction of DOM with Cd (II) and calcite, Cd (II)-DOM complex was formed, and part of calcite was dissolved in the solution which would further increase the migration of Cd (II) and decrease the adsorption of Cd (II) by calcite. This paper might help further understand the effect of calcite and DOM on the environmental behavior of Cd (II) in the soil environment.

KOH modification effectively enhances the Cd and Pb adsorption performance of N-enriched biochar derived from waste chicken feathers

Waste chicken feathers are the ideal precursor for the production of low-cost N-enriched biochar. KOH-modified N-enriched biochar (KNB) containing 15.92 wt% N was successfully prepared using waste chicken feathers. The adsorption kinetics results showed that KNB had rapid Cd (2 h) and Pb (1 h) adsorption rates. The Cd and Pb adsorption capacities of KNB (the values of K_F were 22.324 (Cd) and 119.654 (Pb) mg^1-(1/n)·L^1/n·g^-1) were 7.07 and 26.52 times higher than those of the original biochar based on the adsorption isotherm results. The KNB was stable at pH 3-6 and had stronger co-adsorption capacities in double-ion systems. Based on the adsorption experiments and various characterization methods, we concluded that the primary Cd and Pb adsorption mechanisms of KNB involved electrostatic interactions, cation-π interactions, complexation, and K⁺ exchange. The precipitation mechanism could partially account for Pb adsorption but not for Cd adsorption. KOH modification enhanced the electronegativity of biochar and then increased the electrostatic attraction. Surface O- and N-containing functional groups were involved in Cd and Pb adsorption. Graphitic-N, oxidised-N, and OCO were the main active adsorption groups, the relative contents of which increased after KOH modification, thus increasing the Cd and Pb adsorption performance. Therefore, KNB can be used as a fast and highly efficient adsorption agent to remove Cd and Pb from wastewater containing either Cd and Pb or a combination of these two metals.

Pd(II)-Imprinted Chitosan Adsorbent for Selective Adsorption of Pd(II): Optimizing the Imprinting Process through Box-Behnken Experimental Design

The ion/molecular imprinting technique is an efficient method for developing materials with high adsorption selectivity. However, it is still difficult to obtain an imprinted adsorbent with desirably high selectivity when the preparation processes are not well designed and optimized. In this present work, a chitosan-based ion-imprinted adsorbent was optimally prepared through Box-Behnken experimental design to achieve desirably high selectivity for Pd anions (PdCl₄ ^2-) from aqueous solutions with high acidity. The dosage of epichlorohydrin (ECH) used in the first and second steps of cross-linking as well as the pH of the imprinting reaction medium is likely one of the key factors affecting the selectivity of the synthesized ion-imprinted chitosan adsorbent, which were selected as factors in a three-level factorial Box-Behnken design. As a result, the effects of these three factors on Pd(II) selectivity were able to be described by using a second-order polynomial model with a high regression coefficient (R ²; 0.996). The obtained optimal conditions via the response surface methodology were 0.10% (v/v) of first cross-linking ECH, an imprinting pH of 1.0, and 1.00% of second cross-linking ECH. Competitive adsorption was performed to investigate the selectivities of the ion-imprinted chitosan adsorbents prepared under the optimal conditions. The selectivity coefficient of Pd(II) versus Pt(IV) (β_Pd/Pt) of the Pd(II)-imprinted adsorbent was 115.83, much greater than that of the chitosan adsorbent without imprinting and various reported selective adsorbents. Therefore, the Box-Behnken design can be a useful method for optimizing the synthesis of ion-imprinted adsorbents with desirably high adsorptive selectivity for precious metals.

Removal Mechanisms of Slag against Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil and Plants for Sustainable Agriculture Development: A Critical Review

Potentially toxic element (PTE) pollution is a major abiotic stress, which reduces plant growth and affects food quality by entering the food chain, and ultimately poses hazards to human health. Currently, the use of slag in PTE-contaminated soils has been reported to reduce PTEs and toxicity in plants. This review highlights the role of slag used as a fertilizer for better crop production and sustainable agricultural development. The application of slag increased the growth, yield, and quality of crops under PTE toxicity. The mechanisms followed by slag are the immobilization of PTEs in the soil, enhancement of soil pH, changes in the redox state of PTEs, and positive changes in soil physicochemical and biological properties under PTE toxicity. Nevertheless, these processes are influenced by the plant species, growth conditions, imposition length of stress, and type of slag used. The current review provides an insight into improving plant tolerance to PTE toxicity by slag-based fertilizer application and highlights the theoretical basis for applying slag in PTE-contaminated environments worldwide.

Removal of Cadmium from Contaminated Groundwater Using a Novel Silicon/Aluminum Nanomaterial: An Experimental Study

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful element to human health and biodiversity. The removal of Cd from groundwater is of great significance to maintain the environmental sustainability and biodiversity. In this work, a novel low-temperature roasting associated with alkali was applied to synthesize an eco-friendly adsorbent using coal fly ash. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbent. The experiments show that a significant improvement in specific surface area and activity of adsorbent was observed in this study. The functional groups of Na-O and Fe-O were verified to be beneficial in the removal of Cd²⁺. The material capacity to adsorb Cd²⁺ was considerably improved, and the maximum uptake capacity was 61.8 mg g^-1 for Cd²⁺ at 25 °C. Furthermore, pH and ionic strength play critical roles in the adsorption process. The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models can appropriately describe the adsorption behavior, and the enhanced adsorption ability of Cd²⁺ by modified coal fly ash was attributed to ion-exchange, co-precipitation, and complexation. Higher sorption efficiency was maintained after two regeneration cycles. These results offer valuable insights to develop high-performance adsorbent for Cd²⁺ removal.

Understanding Selectivity of Mesoporous Silica-Grafted Diglycolamide-Type Ligands in the Solid-Phase Extraction of Rare Earths

Rare earth elements (REEs) and their compounds are essential for rapidly developing modern technologies. These materials are especially critical in the area of green/sustainable energy; however, only very high-purity fractions are appropriate for these applications. Yet, achieving efficient REE separation and purification in an economically and environmentally effective way remains a challenge. Moreover, current extraction technologies often generate large amounts of undesirable wastes. In that perspective, the development of selective, reusable, and extremely efficient sorbents is needed. Among numerous ligands used in the liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) process, the diglycolamide-based (DGA) ligands play a leading role. Although these ligands display notable extraction performance in the liquid phase, their extractive chemistry is not widely studied when such ligands are tethered to a solid support. A detailed understanding of the relationship between chemical structure and function (i.e., extraction selectivity) at the molecular level is still missing although it is a key factor for the development of advanced sorbents with tailored selectivity. Herein, a series of functionalized mesoporous silica (KIT-6) solid phases were investigated as sorbents for the selective extraction of REEs. To better understand the extraction behavior of these sorbents, different spectroscopic techniques (solid-state NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, FT-IR) were implemented. The obtained spectroscopic results provide useful insights into the chemical environment and reactivity of the chelating ligand anchored on the KIT-6 support. Furthermore, it can be suggested that depending on the extracted metal and/or structure of the ligand and its attachment to KIT-6, different functional groups (i.e., C═O, N-H, or silanols) act as the main adsorption centers and preferentially capture targeted elements, which in turn may be associated with the different selectivity of the synthesized sorbents. Thus, by determining how metals interact with different supports, we aim to better understand the solid-phase extraction process of hybrid (organo)silica sorbents and design better extraction materials.

Effects of carbide slag, lodestone and biochar on the immobilization, plant uptake and translocation of As and Cd in a contaminated paddy soil

The contamination of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in paddy soils is widely reported and these two metals are difficult to be co-remediated due to the contrasting chemical behaviors. This poses a challenge to simultaneously decrease their availability in soil and accumulation in rice via immobilization by amendments, especially in in-situ fields. This study compared the effects of carbide slag, lodestone and biochar on the bioavailability of As and Cd in soil and their accumulation in rice tissues and root Fe-Mn plaque at tillering and mature stages in a paddy field. The addition of three amendments significantly limited the mobilization of As and Cd in soil and decreased their accumulations in brown rice by 30-52% and 9-21%, respectively. Carbide slag was most whereas lodestone least effective in As and Cd immobilization in the tested contaminated soils. Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction analysis showed that the amendments changed the forms of As and Cd to less-available. Activated functional groups of the amendments (e.g. -OH, C-O, OC-O, OH^- and CO₃^2-) sequestered metals by precipitation, adsorption, ion exchange or electrostatic attributes contributed greatly to the As and Cd immobilization in soil. Furthermore, the amendments promoted the formation of Fe-Mn plaque in rice roots, which further limited the mobility of As and Cd in soil and prevented their transport from soil to rice roots. The application of carbide slag and biochar but not lodestone increased rice yield compared to the unamended control, indicating their applicability in situ remediation. Our study gives a strong reference to select immobilizing amendments for food safe production in co-contaminated paddy soils.

Recovery and reduction of Au(III) from mixed metal solution by thiourea-resorcinol-formaldehyde microspheres

To develop a novel adsorbent that can efficiently and rapidly recover gold from the leaching solution of electronic appliances, thiourea-resorcinol-formaldehyde resin microspheres (TRF) were prepared by a one-pot solvothermal method. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron micrograph and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM and SEM-EDS) were used to analyze the morphology and physical properties of TRF microspheres. The first time, TRF was successfully used to capture gold ions. The results showed that it had very high absorption capacity (1432 mg·g^-1), good selectivity (Au(III) ≫ Fe³⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺ ≈ Cu²⁺ > Al³⁺ > Na⁺ ≈ K⁺) and excellent reuse performance for gold ions. Based on the study of adsorption isotherms and kinetics, Au(III) adsorption on TRF is mainly chemisorption and the adsorption sites are uniform. In acidic systems, Au(III) was reduced by TRF and deposited on TRF as elemental gold. This work provides the possibility to further develop the application of sulfur- and nitrogen-containing polymer materials in gold recovery from mixed metal solution.

Preparation of ion-imprinted montmorillonite nanosheets/chitosan gel beads for selective recovery of Cu(Ⅱ) from wastewater

The novel ion-imprinted montmorillonite nanosheets/chitosan (IIMNC) gel beads were prepared for selective adsorption of Cu²⁺. The IIMNC gel beads were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that IIMNC was successfully assembled and rich in honeycombed pores, which performed well in the removal of Cu²⁺ through the synergistic effect of montmorillonite nanosheets and chitosan. The elimination of copper was followed by pseudo-second-order model and was enhanced by introduced montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNS) because MMTNS attracted Cu(Ⅱ) by its negative charge and provided active adsorption sites through its high performance of cation exchange. This composite gel also showed excellent reusability, performing well in the removal of Cu²⁺ after undergoing adsorption-desorption in five cycles, because the adsorption sites of MMTNS can be continually reactivated by NaOH solution. More importantly, its high selectivity for Cu²⁺ provides a feasible way to recover Cu²⁺ from wastewater containing various cations.

Surface modification of biomaterials based on cocoa shell with improved nitrate and Cr(vi) removal

The present work addresses the development of simple, low-cost and eco-friendly cocoa-shell-based materials for efficient removal of heavy metal hexavalent chromium (Cr(vi)), and toxic nitrate (NO3 -) from aqueous solution. A conventional treatment process was used to purify cocoa shell (CS) into an adsorbent, followed by chemical grafting of dendrimers to promote its surface properties for nitrate and Cr(vi) removal. The morphology, surface charge, structure and stability of the new adsorbent were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible spectroscopies, zeta potential, X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. The successful chemical grafting of the dendrimer (polyethyleneimine, PEI) onto purified CS was confirmed. CS-T-PEI-P proved to be a very efficient candidate for the removal of nitrate and chromium(vi). Removal of the two pollutants at different initial concentrations and pH values was studied and discussed. Sorption of chromium and nitrate was found to obey 2nd-order kinetics and a Freundlich-type isotherm, affording an uptake adsorption of 16.92 mg g-1 for NO3 - and 24.78 mg g-1 for Cr(vi). These results open promising prospects for its potential applications as a low cost catalyst in wastewater treatment.

Bioremediation potential of Sargassum sp. biomass to tackle pollution in coastal ecosystems: Circular economy approach

During the past years, the ecological integrity and biodiversity of marine ecosystems have been highly threatened due to the controlled or uncontrolled release of high concentrations of pollutants generated through anthropogenic activities. The occurrence of environmentally related hazardous pollutants, such as toxic elements, and recalcitrant compounds in various environmental matrices has raised increasing concern. Different technologies have been developed for efficient removal and complete mitigation or degradation of these toxic elements from the aquatic environment. Among them, biosorption and bioaccumulation by renewable and biodegradable sources are of supreme interest and have not been reviewed much. For instance, the invasive seaweed Sargassum sp. has been spotted as a cost-effective natural material to capture targeted pollutants from the coastal ecosystem, which is currently becoming a pressing problem, around the globe, due to its unusual proliferation near tropical shores. This review is an effort to cover the left behind gap to present the multifunctional potentialities of Sargassum sp. biomass. Herein, salient information is given to highlight the potential of Sargassum sp. biomass for environmental decontamination with particular focus to coastal ecosystems. Bioremediation mechanisms, challenges of implementation and factors involved in adsorption and absorption of pollutants by seaweeds are also discussed in this review. Against this background, a circular economy perspective is given for the integrated use of the algal raw material. The up-taken pollutants can be recovered and reintegrated into the value chain of industrial processes, while residual biomass is refined to obtain added-value products as bioactive compounds with potential applications for biofuel, agriculture, cosmetics, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical industries among others, to make the most of renewable resources.

Ion-imprinted chitosan fiber for recovery of Pd(II): Obtaining high selectivity through selective adsorption and two-step desorption

Selective separation of platinum group metals from acidic solutions is of great importance due to their cumulative supply risk and environmental concern. In this study, a Pd(II) ion-imprinted chitosan fiber (ICF) was prepared as the novel adsorbent, and a well-designed two-step desorption process was implemented for selectively recovering Pd(II) from acidic solution containing Pd(II) and interfering metals of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Pt (IV). The ICF showed higher selectivity for Pd(II) adsorption, comparing the non-imprinted chitosan fiber (NICF) towards other metals adsorption. The first selective desorption was achieved by NaOH solution, since only Pt (IV) adsorbed on the ICF in a small amount could be eluted, without any acting on Pd(II) ions. The second desorption process was carried out using acidified thiourea solution for the exclusive Pd(II) ions desorption. Therefore, much higher selective recovery of Pd(II) was achieved through ICF with a good selective adsorption performance and a well-designed desorption process. Furthermore, the mechanisms of selective adsorption and desorption were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Finally, ICF-packed column system was conducted using synthetic multiple metals solution and a practical hydrometallurgy wastewater as influent, respectively, with a good adsorption capacity of 87.2 mg g^-1 and 94.2 mg g^-1, resulting quite high concentrated effluent consisted of 97.4% of Pd(II) and 99.5% of Pd(II), respectively. It was opened up a promising designed material and technique for selectively recovering Pd(II) in the further practical large-scale application.

Synthesis, Characterization, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of EDTA-Modified Chitosan-Carboxymethyl Cellulose as Cu(II) Ion Adsorbent

A new adsorbent derived from the naturally occurring biopolymers, chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared by cross-linking them using EDTA. EDTA having high affinity for metal ions can be used to enhance the chelation properties of the adsorbent enormously. The product obtained (chitosan-EDTA-CMC, CSECM) was characterized by different techniques: FTIR, XRD, SEM/EDAX, TGA, and XPS. The parameters for evaluation of the adsorption properties for removal of Cu(II) ions from the aqueous solution were determined using the batch adsorption method by studying the effect of pH, contact time, initial ion concentration, and temperature on adsorption. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were applied to study the kinetics of the adsorption process, whereas Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R models were applied to evaluate the thermodynamics of the adsorption process. The kinetic adsorption parameters were in best agreement with the pseudo-second-order model, while thermodynamic parameters best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm at different temperatures for adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution with a maximum adsorption capacity of 142.95 mg/g at pH 5.5. CSECM showed excellent regeneration capability and recovery of the Cu(II) ion up to five cycles without the loss of the adsorption efficiency, which is the best characteristic to select the appropriate choice of the adsorbent. The adsorbent was also employed in batch experiments to evaluate the adsorption of hardness, producing common metal ions in single and real wastewater solutions.

Recent advances in hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solutions by adsorptive methods

Chromium exists mainly in two forms in environmental matrices, namely, the hexavalent (Cr(vi)) and trivalent (Cr(iii)) chromium. While Cr(iii) is a micronutrient, Cr(vi) is a known carcinogen, and that warrants removal from environmental samples. Amongst the removal techniques reported in the literature, adsorption methods are viewed as superior to other methods because they use less chemicals; consequently, they are less toxic and easy to handle. Mitigation of chromium using adsorption methods has been achieved by exploiting the physical, chemical, and biological properties of Cr(vi) due to its dissolution tendencies in aqueous solutions. Many adsorbents, including synthetic polymers, activated carbons, biomass, graphene oxide, and nanoparticles as well as bioremediation, have been successfully applied in Cr(vi) remediation. Initially, adsorbents were used singly in their natural form, but recent literature shows that more composite materials are generated and applied. This review focused on the recent advances, insights, and project future directions for these adsorbents as well as compare and contrast the performances achieved by the mentioned adsorbents and their variants.

Mechanisms of Adsorption of Heavy Metal Cations from Waters by an Amino Bio-Based Resin Derived from Rosin

Rosin derived from conifer trees is used as the basis for a novel environmentally-friendly adsorbent prepared from a sustainable resource. After treatment with ethylenediamine, ethylenediamine rosin-based resin (EDAR) is produced, which possesses cation exchange capacity that is comparable to that of the best commercial synthetic resins. This is demonstrated by its application to the removal of Pb, Cd, and Cu from water, in single and multicomponent systems. Maximum uptake was obtained at pH 5 and in the order Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Cu(II). The maximum adsorption of Pb was ~1.8 mmol/g, but the adsorption process resembled the Freundlich isotherm, whereas the adsorption of Cd(II) and Cu(II) followed the Langmuir isotherm. In the multicomponent systems, there was direct competition between Pb and Cd for sorption sites, whereas the results with Cu indicated it had a preference for different types of sites compared to Pb and Cd. The EDAR resin could be efficiently regenerated and used repeatedly with only a small decrease in performance. Characterization of EDAR, and investigations of its adsorption mechanisms using physical, spectroscopic, and theoretical techniques, including fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and molecular dynamics calculations, showed that amino groups have a critical role in determining the cation adsorption properties. We conclude that this new adsorbent derived from an abundant natural material has the potential to make valuable contributions to the routine removal of heavy metal ions (HMs) from drinking water and wastewater.

Characterizations and mechanisms for synthesis of chitosan-coated Na-X zeolite from fly ash and As(V) adsorption study

Solid waste fly ash with low aluminum of Yunnan Province in China was used as pristine material to prepared chitosan-coated Na-X zeolite, and the obtained composite material was employed as As(V) adsorbent. Then, the prepared materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and XPS. And the results suggested that the low aluminum fly ash was successfully convert into Na-X zeolite, and the mineralization between Si-OH of the obtained Na-X zeolite and C-OH of chitosan was the dominated mechanism for coated chitosan over the surface of Na-X zeolite. From the batch experiments of As(V) removal, it has been found that the coated chitosan could significantly improve As(V) performance of Na-X zeolite. The optimal working pH for removal As(V) by chitosan-coated Na-X zeolite was attained at pH 2.1 ± 0.1, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 63.23 mg/g. And the adsorption data at different interval time was excellent fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. From the analyze of XPS, the results suggested that As(V) uptake over adsorbent by the bond of As-N and As-O and the surface hydroxyl group of Al-OH and -NH₂ were involved in uptake As(V) from acid wastewater.

Effects of ionic strength on removal of toxic pollutants from aqueous media with multifarious adsorbents: A review

Adsorption is one of the most widely used and effective wastewater treatment methods. The role of ionic strength (IS) in shaping the adsorption performances is much necessary due to the ubiquity of electrolyte ions in water body and industrial effluents. The influences of IS on adsorption are rather complex, because electrolyte ions affect both adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics by changing the basic characteristics of adsorbents and adsorbates. For a given adsorption system, multiple or even contradictory effects of IS may coexist under identical experimental conditions, rendering the dominant mechanism recognition and net effect prediction complicated. We herein reviewed the key advancement on the interaction and mechanisms of IS, including change in number of active sites for adsorbents, ion pair for metal ions, molecular aggregation and salting-out effect for organic compounds, site competition for both inorganic and organic adsorbates, and charge compensation for adsorbent-adsorbate reciprocal interactions. The corresponding fundamental theory was thoroughly described, and the efforts made by various researchers were explicated. The structural optimization of adsorbents affected by IS was detailed, also highlighting polyamine materials with exciting "salt-promotion" effects on heavy metal removal from high salinity wastewater. In addition, the research trends and prospects were briefly discussed.

Ion-imprinted electrospun nanofibers of chitosan/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate for the dynamic expulsion of thorium (IV) ions from mimicked effluents

The present study explores the innocuous, biocompatible, and extremely competent molecularly imprinted chitosan/RTIL electrospun nanofibers having average diameter of 30 nm for the expulsion of thorium (IV) ions from the mimicked effluent waste. The extended Flory-Huggins theory and three-dimensional molecular modeling have been effectively premeditated via Materials Studio software for enumerating the inter-miscibility and compatibility (Chi parameter (χ) = 1.019, mixing energy (E_mix) = 0.603 kcal/mol) of the chitosan/RTIL (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). The maximum adsorption efficiency is found to be 90% at a neutral pH of 7, and a temperature of 298 K within 120 min. The adsorption process was extensively studied by two-parameter adsorption isotherms like Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) and three-parameter models like Redlich-Paterson and Sips isotherm. Pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R² = 0.982) and Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.994) bestowed the best fitting on chitosan/RTIL nanofibers for the adsorption of Th (IV) ions. The thermodynamic study reveals the spontaneity and exothermic nature of the reaction. The experimental analysis conjoint with isotherm and kinetic models, and simulation study establish the applicability of chitosan/RTIL nanofibers for the expulsion of Th (IV) and other toxic metal ions from the effluents. Graphical abstract Ion-imprinted electrospun nanofiber for expulsion of thorium (IV) ion.

The importance of surface functional groups in the adsorption of copper onto walnut shell derived activated carbon

In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from walnut shell using chemical activation. The surface chemistry of the prepared AC was modified by introducing or blocking certain functional groups, and the role of the different functional groups involved in the copper uptake was investigated. The structural and chemical heterogeneity of the produced carbons are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Boehm titration method and N₂/77 K adsorption isotherm analysis. The equilibrium and the kinetics of copper adsorption onto AC were studied. The results demonstrated that the functional groups on AC played an important role in copper uptake. Among various surface functional groups, the oxygen-containing group was found to play a critical role in the copper uptake, and oxidation is the most effective way to improve Cu (II) adsorption onto AC. Ion-exchange was identified to be the dominant mechanism in the copper uptake by AC. Some other types of interactions, like complexation, were also proven to be involved in the adsorption process, while physical force was found to play a small role in the copper uptake. The regeneration of copper-loaded AC and the recovery of copper were also studied to evaluate the reusability of the oxidized AC.

Carboxylic acid functionalized sesame straw: A sustainable cost-effective bioadsorbent with superior dye adsorption capacity

This study prepared a carboxylic functionalized bioadsorbent that met the "4-E" criteria: Efficient, Economical, Environmentally friendly, and Easily-produced. Sesame straw (Sesamum indicum L.) was functionalized through treatment with citric acid (SSCA) and tartaric acid (SSTA). The products were examined for adsorption capacity and mechanisms. Langmuir model gave the best fit for the isotherm data, and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of SSCA was 650mgg^-1 for methylene blue (MB). The excellent dye adsorption capacity of SSCA can be attributed to the introduction of ester groups during citric-acid modification and the tube-like structures (i.e., sesame straw cell wall remnants). At last, the cost of carboxylic acid functionalized bioadsorbents was evaluated, which showed that SSCA would be the most cost-effective bioadsorbent. Additionally, this study presents a thermo-decomposition methodology for contaminant-loaded bioadsorbent. Results showed that SSCA is probably one of the few bioadsorbents that can be produced and applied in industrial scale.

Selective removal Pb(ii) ions form wastewater using Pb(ii) ion-imprinted polymers with bi-component polymer brushes

Ion imprinted polymers (IIPs) are very difficult to apply in actual wastewater containing solid particles and floccules due to the imprinting hole blockage of losing adsorption performance.

Chitosan stabilized Ag-Au nanoalloy for colorimetric sensing and 5-Fluorouracil delivery

Fluorescent CS/Ag-Au (chitosan/silver-gold) nanocomposite containing different weight percentage of Ag and Au was synthesized using the chemical reduction method. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) encapsulated nanocomposite was also synthesized and its cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) studied. The XRD pattern of the nanocomposite shows peaks of chitosan, silver and gold. The peaks corresponding to gold and silver indicate the face centered cubic structure of silver and gold nanoparticles. The polymer matrix nanocomposite structure with chitosan as the matrix and silver-gold as the filler phase is evident from the high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images and an increase in particle size from∼5nm to about 12nm is noticeable on encapsulation of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The presence of fluorine in the case of 5-FU encapsulated nanocomposite and the presence of reflections corresponding to 5-FU in the SAED pattern confirms the encapsulation of 5-FU into the nanocomposite, which is also confirmed by elemental mapping. The presence of a single surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak in the case of the nanocomposite in a position in between the SPR bands of pure silver and gold nanoparticles confirms the formation of Ag-Au alloy and the elemental mapping results obtained for the nanocomposite also supports the UV-vis results. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum clearly shows an emission peak in the near infrared region (700-900nm), which makes the nanocomposite suitable for use in cellular imaging. The application of the nanocomposite as a colorimetric sensor was also studied and it was found to be useful for the specific detection of mercury (Hg) without much interference and the detection limit was found to be 5.0×10^-8M.