Synthesis of Novel Lignin-Based Ion-Exchange Resin and Its Utilization in Heavy Metals Removal

Removal of Cu (II) by ion exchange resin and its re-utilization of the residual solution from the distilled Lycium barbarum wine

In order to re-utilize the residual from the distillation of the Chinese wolfberry wine and reduce the environmental pollution, the residual is firstly filtered by the ceramic membrane of 50 nm, then the Cu (II) has transferred from the distillation is removed using the ion exchange resin, and the treated solution is recombined with the distilled liquor to make the Chinese wolfberry brandy and the comparison has conducted on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and flavor compounds between the recombined brandy and the finished brandy. The results indicate that the Cu (II) was effectively removed by ceramic membrane combined with the D401 resin. Compared with finished brandy, the recombined brandy contains high contents of polysaccharides, phenols and flavonoids, thus contributing to the improvement of antioxidant capacity. The gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) reveals that 25 volatile compounds like esters and alcohols have identified in the brandy samples, and the differences are significant between the recombined and the finished brandy. In summary, the distilled residual from the Chinese wolfberry wine might be re-used after the appropriate treatment so as to reduce the discharge and environmental pollution.

In-situ preparation of lignin/Fe3O4 magnetic spheres as bifunctional material for the efficient removal of metal ions and methylene blue

In this paper, magnetic composite of lignin/Fe3O4 spheres were synthesized via a straightforward one-step in-situ solvothermal method showing good capacity for adsorbing heavy metal ions and dyes. The physicochemical properties of lignin/Fe3O4 spheres are analyzed using a range of techniques such as SEM, XRD, FTIR, VSM, TG, and BET. Lignin/Fe3O4 spheres exhibited high adsorption capacities of 100.00, 353.36 and 223.71 and 180.18 mg/g for Cu (II), Ni (II) and Cr (VI) metal ions and methylene blue (MB) with equilibrium attained within 60 min. After the recycling experiments, lignin/Fe3O4 spheres still possesses excellent superparamagnetic properties and displays high adsorption capacity. The lignin/Fe3O4 spheres are an efficient and continuous adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions of Cu (II), Ni (II), Cr (VI) and cationic dyes of methylene blue in wastewater, which proves the great potential in practical pollutants treatment applications for water systems.

Synthesis of cationic biomass lignosulfonate hydrogel for the efficient adsorption of Cr(VI) in wastewater with low pH

In the present study, we synthesized a cationic lignosulfonate hydrogel (LS-g-P (AM-co-DAC)) by grafting acrylamide (AM) and acryloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) onto sodium lignosulfonate (LS) via free radical copolymerization. The solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature were comprehensively investigated through the static adsorption method for the adsorption behaviours of Cr(VI) by the hydrogel. The experimental results show that the best conditions were a temperature of 30°C, a dosage of 0.1 g, pH = 3, a concentration of 50 mg / L, and contact time = 2 h with removal efficiencies of above 70% and adsorption capacity of 18.14 mg·g^-1. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isothermal model, indicating monolayer adsorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 58.86 mg·g^-1. Adsorption kinetics results show that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model dominated the adsorption process, and the adsorption activation energy was 5.489 kJ·mol^-1. In addition, the adsorption involved spontaneous exothermic and entropy reduction. The combination of FT-IR, SEM, and XRD was used to characterize the structure and properties of the prepared hydrogel, and the adsorption mechanism was the result of electrostatic attraction, physical and chemical adsorption, and hydrogen bond. The hydrogel has good regenerative properties after desorption. Overall, this work synthesized an environmentally friendly biomass lignin-based hydrogel, which can be used as an adsorbent for the treatment of anionic pollutants, and explored a new method for the high-value utilization of industrial lignin.HighlightsNovel cationic lignosulfonate hydrogel (LS-g-P (AM-co-DAC)) was synthesized by a free radical method.SEM and XRD results confirmed the surface of the obtained hydrogel shows a 3D network structure and does not have a crystal structure.LS-g-P (AM-co-DAC) hydrogel adsorbent can selectively adsorb Cr⁶⁺ at pH 3.0.The adsorption conditions and the adsorption mechanism were studied in detail.Electrostatic interaction plays a key role in the adsorption of Cr⁶⁺.

Decoration of sodium carboxymethylcellulose gel microspheres with modified lignin to enhanced methylene blue removal

The introduction of active groups from biomass is currently the most promising alternative method for increasing the adsorption effect of dyes. In this study, modified aminated lignin (MAL) rich in phenolic hydroxyl and amine groups was prepared by amination and catalytic grafting. The factors influencing the modification conditions of the content of amine and phenolic hydroxyl groups were explored. Chemical structural analysis results confirmed that MAL was successfully prepared using a two-step method. The content of phenolic hydroxyl groups in MAL significantly increased to 1.46 mmol/g. MAL/sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) gel microspheres (MCGM) with enhanced methylene blue (MB) adsorption capacity owing to the formation of a composite with MAL were synthesized by a sol-gel process followed by freeze-drying and using multivalent cations Al³⁺ as cross-linking agents. In addition, the effects of the MAL to NaCMC mass ratio, time, concentration, and pH on the adsorption of MB were explored. Benefiting from a sufficient number of active sites, MCGM exhibited an ultrahigh adsorption capacity for MB removal, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 118.30 mg/g. These results demonstrated the potential of MCGM for wastewater treatment applications.

Designed synthesis of multifunctional lignin-based adsorbent for efficient heavy metal ions removal and electromagnetic wave absorption

Multifunctional lignin-based adsorbents, which have shown great application prospect, have attracted widespread attention. Herein, a series of multifunctional lignin-based magnetic recyclable adsorbents were prepared from carboxymethylated lignin (CL), which was rich in carboxyl group (-COOH). After optimizing the mass ratio of CL to Fe₃O₄, the prepared CL/Fe₃O₄ (3:1) adsorbent showed efficient adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions. The kinetic and isotherm nonlinear fitting studies revealed that the adsorption process followed the second-order kinetic and Langmuir models, and the maximum adsorption capacities (Q_max) of CL/Fe₃O₄ (3:1) magnetic recyclable adsorbent for Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions reached 189.85, 124.43 and 106.97 mg/g, respectively. Meanwhile, after 6 cycles, the adsorption capacities of CL/Fe₃O₄ (3:1) for Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ ions could keep at 87.4 %, 83.4 % and 82.3 %, respectively. In addition, CL/Fe₃O₄ (3:1) also exhibited excellent electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) performance with a reflection loss (RL) of -28.65 dB at 6.96 GHz under the thickness of 4.5 mm, and its effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) achieved 2.24 GHz (6.08-8.32 GHz). In short, the prepared multifunctional CL/Fe₃O₄ (3:1) magnetic recyclable adsorbent with outstanding adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions and superior EMWA capability opens a new avenue for the diversified utilization of lignin and lignin-based adsorbent.

Cu(II) removal from water by trimercapto-s-triazine trisodium salt modified alkaline lignin

To overcome the poor removal ability of alkaline lignin (AL) toward heavy metals, trimercapto-s-triazine trisodium salt (TMT) was selected as the modifying agent to introduce reaction groups. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggested that -SNa, C-N, and C = N groups were successfully introduced. Copper (II) was applied to evaluate the uptake performance of the adsorbent (AL-TMT). Adsorbent dosage and solution pH were taken into account to study their effects in the batch experiments. The pseudo-second-order dynamics and Langmuir models better described the experimental data. Nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) functional groups in thiotriazinone carried by AL-TMT were determined to be the primary uptake sites through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FT-IR, and electrostatic potential (ESP). The selective experiments of AL-TMT toward Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Mg(II) were performed. It showed that AL-TMT possessed better adsorption selectivity toward Cu(II) than others. Furthermore, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of thiotriazinone in AL-TMT also exhibited the lowest binding energy toward Cu than toward others. This work may provide a theoretical basis to facilitate the extraction of specific heavy metals from water or wastewater by using such modified alkaline lignin.

A functional lignin for heavy metal ions adsorption and wound care dressing

Recently, the application of lignin activation by demethylation to improve reactivity and enrich multiple functions has intensively attracted attention. However, it is still challenge up to now due to the low reactivity and complexity of lignin structure. Here, an effective demethylation way was explored by microwave-assisted method for substantially enhancing the hydroxyl (-OH) content and retaining the structure of lignin. Then, the optimum demethylated lignin was used to removal heavy metal ions and promote wound healing, respectively. In detail, for microwave-assisted demethylated poplar lignin (M-DPOL), the contents of phenolic (Ar-OH) and total hydroxyl (Tot-OH) groups reached the maximum for 60 min at 90 °C in DMF with 7.38 and 9.13 mmol/g, respectively. After demethylation, with this M-DPOL as lignin-based adsorbent, the maximum adsorption capacity (Q_max) for Pb²⁺ ions reached 104.16 mg/g. Based on the isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic models analyses, the chemisorption occurred in monolayer on the surface of M-DPOL, and all adsorption processes were endothermic and spontaneous. Meanwhile, M-DPOL as a wound dressing had excellent antioxidant property, outstanding bactericidal activity and remarkable biocompatibility, suggesting that it did not interfere with cell proliferation. Besides, the wounded rats treated with M-DPOL significantly promoted its formation of re-epithelialization and wound healing of full-thickness skin defects. Overall, microwave-assisted method of demethylated lignin can offer great advantages for heavy metal ions removal and wound care dressing, which facilitates high value application of lignin.

Preparation and modification of nanocellulose and its application to heavy metal adsorption: A review

Heavy metals are a notable pollutant in aquatic ecosystems that results in many deadly diseases of the human body after enrichment through the food chain. As an environmentally friendly renewable resource, nanocellulose can be competitive with other materials at removing heavy metal ions due to its large specific surface area, high mechanical strength, biocompatibility and low cost. In this review, the research status of modified nanocellulose for heavy metal adsorbents is primarily reviewed. Two primary forms of nanocellulose are cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). The preparation process of nanocellulose was derived from natural plants, and the preparation process included noncellulosic constituent removal and extraction of nanocellulose. Focusing on heavy metal adsorption, the modification of nanocellulose was explored in depth, including direct modification methods, surface grafting modification methods based on free radical polymerization and physical activation. The adsorption principles of nanocellulose-based adsorbents when removing heavy metals are analyzed in detail. This review may further facilitate the application of the modified nanocellulose in the field of heavy metal removal.

Synthesis of Nanosilica for the Removal of Multicomponent Cd2+ and Cu2+ from Synthetic Water: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

Copper and cadmium ions are among the top 120 hazardous chemicals listed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that can bind to organic and inorganic chemicals. Silica is one of the most abundant oxides that can limit the transport of these chemicals into water resources. Limited work has focused on assessing the applicability of nanosilica for the removal of multicomponent metal ions and studying their interaction on the surface of this adsorbent. Therefore, this study focuses on utilizing a nanosilica for the adsorption of Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ from water. Experimental work on the single- and multi-component adsorption of these ions was conducted and supported with theoretical interpretations. The nanosilica was characterized by its surface area, morphology, crystallinity, and functional groups. The BET surface area was 307.64 m²/g with a total pore volume of 4.95×10−3 cm³/g. The SEM showed an irregular amorphous shape with slits and cavities. Several Si–O–Si and hydroxyl groups were noticed on the surface of the silica. The single isotherm experiment showed that Cd²⁺ has a higher uptake (72.13 mg/g) than Cu²⁺ (29.28 mg/g). The multicomponent adsorption equilibrium shows an affinity for Cd²⁺ on the surface. This affinity decreases with increasing Cu²⁺ equilibrium concentration due to the higher isosteric heat from the interaction between Cd and the surface. The experimental data were modeled using isotherms for the single adsorption, with the Freundlich and the non-modified competitive Langmuir models showing the best fit. The molecular dynamics simulations support the experimental data where Cd²⁺ shows a multilayer surface coverage. This study provides insight into utilizing nanosilica for removing heavy metals from water.

Dual lignin-derived polymeric systems for hazardous ion removals

The functionalization of lignin derivatives for ion removals is a promising method to expedite their use in treating industrial wastewater. In this work, kraft lignin (KL) was polymerized with [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methyl sulfate (METAM) or acrylic acid (AA) in an acidic aqueous suspension system to produce cationic and anionic water-soluble lignin polymers with high molecular weights. Then, the interaction of soluble ions and KL-METAM and KL-AA was investigated using a Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and a vertical scan analyzer (VSA). The QCM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurement results showed that the adsorption efficiency of KL-AA was better than KL-METAM for ions due to the stronger electrostatic interaction, cationic π-interaction, and chelation between ions and KL-AA. Based on adsorption, sedimentation, and aggregate size analyses, the dual polymer systems of KL-AA/KL-METAM were more effective than KL-METAM/KL-AA in removing ions. Among Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and K⁺; Zn²⁺ interacted more effectively with polymers in all scenarios because it has higher reactivity for interacting with other elements. As the efficiency of ion removals was more remarkable than past reported findings, the system of KL-AA/KL-METAM may be a promising alternative for the removal of dissolved ions from solutions.

Magnetic Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Nanocomposite for Pb(II) Adsorption from Aqueous Solution

We report in the present study the in situ formation of magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 or Fe) within porous N-doped carbon (Fe3O4/N@C) via simple impregnation, polymerization, and calcination sequentially. The synthesized nanocomposite structural properties were investigated using different techniques showing its good construction. The formed nanocomposite showed a saturation magnetization (Ms) of 23.0 emu g-1 due to the implanted magnetic nanoparticles and high surface area from the porous N-doped carbon. The nanocomposite was formed as graphite-type layers. The well-synthesized nanocomposite showed a high adsorption affinity toward Pb2+ toxic ions. The nanosorbent showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 250.0 mg/g toward the Pb2+ metallic ions at pH of 5.5, initial Pb2+ concentration of 180.0 mg/L, and room temperature. Due to its superparamagnetic characteristics, an external magnet was used for the fast separation of the nanocomposite. This enabled the study of the nanocomposite reusability toward Pb2+ ions, showing good chemical stability even after six cycles. Subsequently, Fe3O4/N@C nanocomposite was shown to have excellent efficiency for the removal of toxic Pb2+ ions from water.

Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) palm tree biomass as adsorbent for Pb(II) and Cd(II) from water medium

Plant-based biomass (CFB (carnauba fruit biomass)) obtained from the fruit exocarp of the species Copernicia prunifera (Mill.) H.E. Moore (carnauba) was evaluated for its viability as an adsorbent of potentially toxic metals in aqueous medium. The CFB was characterized by powder X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and zeta potential to investigate the morphology of the biosorbent and its interaction with water soluble metal ions of Pb and Cd. The biomass presents an amorphous structure, with negative zeta potential (- 2.59 mV), and the presence of functional groups such as O-H, C-O-C, C-H, and C=O. The removal potential of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was performed in a batch system, and monoelement solutions were tested to assess the effects of adsorbent dose and initial metal ion concentration, pH at the point of zero charge (pH_PZC), sorption kinetics, and adsorption capacity. The most appropriate adsorbent concentration was 5 g/L, and sorption studies were carried out at pH 5.0 (pH_PZC = 4.68), in which the surface of the adsorbent shows negative charges and favors the adsorption of metal ions. Kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second order model best fit the experimental data, and equilibrium was reached at 120 min of contact time. The experimental sorption capacity (SC_exp) for Pb and Cd was around 28 and 34 mg/g, respectively, and six different non-linear isotherm models were used to describe the sorption phenomena, among them, four with 2 parameters, i.e., Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR), respectively, and two with 3 parameters, namely, SIPS and Hill. The non-linear Temkin and Freundlich isotherm models best fit the experimental data for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. According to the Langmuir model, Q_max was 26 mg/g and 58 mg/g for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively, indicating the efficiency of CFB as a new alternative to conventional methods for the removal of potentially toxic metals from aqueous medium.

2G waste lignin to fuel and high value-added chemicals: Approaches, challenges and future outlook for sustainable development

Lignin is produced as a byproduct in cellulosic biorefinery as well in pulp and paper industries and has the potential for the synthesis of a variety of phenolics chemicals, biodegradable polymers, and high value-added chemicals surrogate to conventional petro-based fuels. Therefore, in this critical review, we emphasize the possible scenario for lignin isolation, transformation into value addition chemicals/materials for the economic viability of current biorefineries. Additionally, this review covers the chemical structure of lignocellulosic biomass/lignin, worldwide availability of lignin and describe various thermochemical (homogeneous/heterogeneous base/acid-catalyzed depolymerization, oxidative, hydrogenolysis etc.) and biotechnological developments for the production of bio-based low molecular weight phenolics, i.e. polyhydroxyalkanoates, vanillin, adipic acid, lipids etc. Besides, some functional chemicals applications, lignin-formaldehyde ion exchange resin, electrochemical and production of few targeted chemicals are also elaborated. Finally, we examine the challenges, opportunities and prospects way forward related to lignin valorization.

One-pot fabrication of lignin-based aromatic porous polymers for efficient removal of bisphenol AF from water

To remove the bisphenol AF (BPAF) from aqueous solution, two different types of lignin-based aromatic porous polymers (LAPP-1 and LAPP-2) were fabricated via one-pot crosslinking of lignin with 1,4-dichloroxylene and 4,4'-bis(chloromethyl)-1,1'-biphenyl, respectively. The successful synthesis of LAPPs was confirmed by FTIR and XPS, SEM, TEM and N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis. Then, batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate adsorption properties toward BPAF. Based on the results, the adsorption processes were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model, and the thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process. It is remarkable that LAPPs exhibited good adsorption performance in wide ranges of pH and ionic strength as well as in recycling process. Notably, compared to LAPP-1, LAPP-2 exhibited higher adsorption capacity for BPAF, which can be ascribed to its higher porosity and content of aromatic ring. Moreover, the comprehensive analysis of experimental and theoretical results indicated that the π-π interactions and pore adsorption may jointly drive the uptake process of BPAF. Considering the simple fabrication method employed and excellent BPAF adsorption performance, LAPPs provided new insights into the development of advanced lignin-based adsorbents for removal of BPAF from water.

Characteristics of natural biopolymers and their derivative as sorbents for chromium adsorption: a review

Abstract

Chromium is widely used in industry, and improper disposal of wastewater and industrial residues containing excessive chromium can contaminate water and soil, endangering both environmental and human health. Natural biopolymers and their derivatives have been investigated for removal of chromium (Cr) from wastewater. Cellulose, lignin, tannin, chitin, chitosan, and polypeptides are abundant in nature, and have high potential as adsorbents due to their easy access, low cost, and the recyclability of the captured heavy metals. In order to improve their mechanical strength, recyclability, specific surface area, binding site number, and adsorption rate as adsorbents, native materials have also been modified. This review discusses the source of chromium contamination and the main species of interest, as well as their toxicity. The structures of the aforementioned biopolymers were analyzed, and the adsorption mechanism of chromium and the main influencing factors on this process are discussed. The modification methods of various adsorbents and their adsorption effects on chromium are also detailed, and the developmental direction of research on the use of biopolymer adsorption remediation to control chromium contamination is discussed.

Graphical abstract

Enhanced removal of chromium(III) for aqueous solution by EDTA modified attapulgite: Adsorption performance and mechanism

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid modified attapulgite (EDTA-ATP) was developed as a novel and promising adsorbent for removal of aqueous Cr(Ш). The structure and surface properties of EDTA-ATP were characterized and the results indicated that EDTA moieties have been successfully anchored on the surface of ATP. Adsorption of Cr(III) on EDTA-ATP and aminopropyl-modified attapulgite (APTES-ATP) monotonously reduced with decreasing pH, and Cr(III) adsorption on EDTA-ATP is substantially higher than APTES-ATP in tested pH range, especially at lower pH. Presence of citric acid and gelatin had no obvious influence on Cr(III) adsorption to EDTA-ATP, but significantly reduced Cr(III) adsorption on APTES-ATP. Coexisting cations resulted in decreased Cr(III) adsorption on EDTA-ATP by competition with Cr(III) for surface-bound EDTA groups of the adsorbent. Adsorption isotherm of Cr(III) on EDTA-ATP followed the Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent for Cr(III) was 131.37 mg/g at 25 °C and pH 3.0. Cr(Ш) loaded adsorbent could be regenerated easily in HCl solution and the regenerated adsorbent still exhibited high adsorption capacity for Cr(III). XPS analysis confirmed that the enhanced Cr(III) adsorption on EDTA-ATP was ascribed to form the stable complexes between Cr(III) and surface-bound carboxyl and amino groups of the adsorbents.

"Waste to Wealth": Lignin as a Renewable Building Block for Energy Harvesting/Storage and Environmental Remediation

Lignin is the second most earth-abundant biopolymer having aromatic unit structures, but it has received less attention than other natural biomaterials. Recent advances in the development of lignin-based materials, such as mesoporous carbon, flexible thin films, and fiber matrix, have found their way into applications to photovoltaic devices, energy-storage systems, mechanical energy harvesters, and catalytic components. In this Review, we summarize and suggest another dimension of lignin valorization as a building block for the synthesis of functional materials in the fields of energy and environmental applications. We cover lignin-based materials in the photovoltaic and artificial photosynthesis for solar energy conversion applications. The most recent technological evolution in lignin-based triboelectric nanogenerators is summarized from its fundamental properties to practical implementations. Lignin-derived catalysts for solar-to-heat conversion and oxygen reduction are discussed. For energy-storage applications, we describe the utilization of lignin-based materials in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors (e.g., electrodes, binders, and separators). We also summarize the use of lignin-based materials as heavy-metal adsorbents for environmental remediation. This Review paves the way to future potentials and opportunities of lignin as a renewable material for energy and environmental applications.

Synthesis of MgO micro-rods coated with charred dextrose and its application for the adsorption of selected heavy metals from synthetic and real groundwater

MgO micro-rods supported on porous carbon were synthesized by an economical method and applied for the adsorption of three different heavy metals ions (As (III), Cd (II) and Pb (II)). Here, we used dextrose as the source of carbon during the synthesis. The synthesized material has been characterized by different techniques like XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, BET and FT-IR for the determination of various physical properties. Compared with MgO synthesized without dextrose, the carbon-supported MgO or C-MgO demonstrated consistent rod-shaped morphology, higher surface area and better absorptivity. The adsorption data were analysed using various isotherm models and the Freundlich isotherm model seemed to provide the best fit to the data. The adsorption kinetics data on the other hand was well explicated by the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity of C-MgO was 508.47 mg g^-1 for As (III), 566.01 mg g^-1 for Cd (II) and 476.19 mg g^-1 for Pb (II), respectively after 6 h of reaction. To check the real-life usability and efficiency of C-MgO, it was added to a groundwater sample which had 169.55 ppb of As (III) and within 20 min it was adsorbed with 99% efficiency. Reusability studies reveal that C-MgO could be used up to 6 times with more than 60% efficiency. This study shows that C-MgO has high adsorptive ability, is an economic and non-toxic material with versatile applications and can be used for groundwater remediation in real life.

One-pot preparation and characterization of lignin-based cation exchange resin and its utilization in Pb (II) removal

Lignin is a renewable source of aromatics, and the conversion of lignin to chemicals, fuels and materials is very attractive. Herein, a novel lignin-based cation exchange resin (LBR) was easily synthesized through an economical one-pot method. Results demonstrated that the sulfonic acid groups were successfully introduced into the skeleton of the resins, and the S contents and swelling capacity of the prepared LBRs gradually increased with the increment of the sulfonation reagents dosage. A maximum ion-exchange capacity of 2.26 mmol/g was achieved for the LBR obtained at 120 °C for 4 h with a molar ratio of phenol to formaldehyde (P:F) of 1:5 (SSPL-0.50), which was comparable to the commercial phenol type cation exchange resin. Furthermore, the SSPL-0.50 exhibited a high adsorption capacity (167.2 mg/g) for Pb (II) removal. The LBR can be considered as a promising substitute for the petroleum-based ion exchange resin in the purification of wastewater.

Feasibility of anaerobic digestion on the release of biogas and heavy metals from rice straw pretreated with sodium hydroxide

The feasibility of anaerobic digestion on the release of biogas and heavy metals from contaminated rice straw pretreated with NaOH solution was studied. The results show that NaOH pretreatment can significantly boost the release of biogas and heavy metals from rice straw using anaerobic digestion. Under the optimal conditions for biomass pretreated 6% (w/w) NaOH with a solid-to-solution ratio of 1:20, total biogas and methane yields of 446.3 mL/g and 263.5 mL/g volatile solids were achieved, which were 22.18% and 41.59% higher than those of the control without NaOH pretreatment, respectively, and the release percentages of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn from rice straw reached 86.95-97.69%. The release of heavy metals from rice straw can contribute to both the degradation of lignin by NaOH pretreatment and the utilization/transformation of lignocellulose via anaerobic digestion. The acidification levels and total volatile fatty acid contents significantly influence on the release of heavy metals. Based on the Illumina HiSeq sequencing analysis, the dominant phyla in the biogas residues were proteolytic (Bacteroidetes) and hydrogen-producing (Firmicutes) bacteria, while the growth of Methanospirillum and Methanosaeta in anaerobically digested effluent was promoted. The results revealed that anaerobic digestion combined with NaOH pretreatment is suitable for the disposal of heavy metal-contaminated biomass.

Two-stage alkali-oxygen pretreatment capable of improving biomass saccharification for bioethanol production and enabling lignin valorization via adsorbents for heavy metal ions under the biorefinery concept

Converting lignin into value-added products in current lignocellulosic biorefineries has been challenging, which in turn restricts the commercialization of many lignocellulosic biorefineries. In this work, a two-stage alkali-oxygen assisted liquid hot water pretreatment (AlkOx) was proposed as the first step of biorefinery. This alkali-oxygen pretreatment facilitated biomass fractionation by solubilizing majority of lignin in water-soluble fraction, while remaining most of cellulose and hemicellulose in water-insoluble fraction. As a result, biomass saccharification was significantly improved by selective removal and oxidative modification of lignin through alkali-oxygen pretreatment. Moreover, lignin residues from both pretreatment hydrolysate and enzymatic hydrolysate were shown to be favorable adsorbents for Pb(II) ions, with adsorption capacity of 263.16 and 90.91 mg/g, respectively. Results demonstrated that this integrated process could not only improve biomass saccharification but also enable lignin valorization, which encouraged the holistic utilization of lignin residues as part of an integrated biorefinery.

Lignin materials for adsorption: Current trend, perspectives and opportunities

Lignin is a highly aromatic low value biomass residue, which can be utilized for chemicals, fuels and materials production. In recent years significant attention has focused on adsorbent materials from lignin. However, only 5% of available lignin is exploited worldwide, thus significant opportunities still exist for materials development. This review summarizes recent research advances in lignin-based adsorbents, with a particular emphasis on lignin, its modification and carbon materials derived from this abundant feedstock. Lignin derived activated carbons have been utilized for air pollutant adsorption (e.g. CO₂, SO₂ and H₂S), while modified lignin materials have been developed for the removal of organic dyes and organics (like methylene blue, Procion Blue MX-R and phenols), heavy metals (such as Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd), or recovery of noble metals (e.g., Pd, Au and Pt). Future perspectives highlight how green chemistry approaches for developing lignin adsorbents can generate added value processes.

Insights into the Synergistic Biodegradation of Waste Papers Using a Combination of Thermostable Endoglucanase and Cellobiohydrolase from Chaetomium thermophilum

Enzymatic hydrolysis is considered an efficient and environmental strategy for the degradation of organic waste materials. Compared to mesophilic cellulases, thermostable cellulases with considerable activity are more advantageous in waste paper hydrolysis, particularly in terms of their participation in synergistic action. In this study, the synergistic effect of two different types of thermostable Chaetomium thermophilum cellulases, the endoglucanase CTendo45 and the cellobiohydrolase CtCel6, on five common kinds of waste papers was investigated. CtCel6 significantly enhanced the bioconversion process, and CTendo45 synergistically increased the degradation, with a maximum degree of synergistic effect of 1.67 when the mass ratio of CTendo45/CtCel6 was 5:3. The synergistic degradation products of each paper material were also determined. Additionally, the activities of CTendo45 and CtCel6 were found to be insensitive to various metals at 2 mM and 10 mM ion concentrations. This study gives an initial insight into a satisfactory synergistic effect of C. thermophilum thermostable cellulases for the hydrolysis of different paper materials, which provides a potential combination of enzymes for industrial applications, including environmentally friendly waste management and cellulosic ethanol production.

Synthesis of a magnetic polystyrene-based cation-exchange resin and its utilization for the efficient removal of cadmium (II)

A magnetic cation-exchange resin (MCER) was prepared by copolymerization of oleic acid-grafted magnetite with styrene, divinylbenzene (DVB), and triallylisocyanurate (TAIC) for removing Cd(II) from wastewater. A non-magnetic cation-exchange polystyrene resin (CEPR) was also prepared as a reference. Structural and morphological analyses revealed that the MCER and CEPR were mesoporous microspheres; the MCER contained about 25% Fe₃O₄. The influence of temperature, pH, contact time, and the initial concentration of Cd(II) on the adsorption of Cd(II) was investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of the MCER reached 88.56 mg/g, which was achieved at 343 K using a Cd(II) initial concentration of 200 mg/L. The adsorption processes attained equilibrium within 120 min for the MCER and 300 min for the CEPR, and were well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, the equilibrium adsorption data fitted the Freundlich isotherm model better than the Langmuir model. The superior magnetic response and regeneration of the MCER make it a good candidate as an adsorbent for removing Cd(II) from wastewater.

Zeolite A synthesized from alkaline assisted pre-activated halloysite for efficient heavy metal removal in polluted river water and industrial wastewater

High quality zeolite A was synthesized through a hydrothermal process using alkaline-assisted pre-activated halloysite mineral as the alumina and silica source. The synthesis conditions employed in this study were finely tuned by varying the activating temperature, sodium hydroxide content, water content and Si/Al ratio. The obtained zeolite A showed excellent adsorption properties for both single metal cation solutions and mixed cation solutions when the concentrations of the mixed cations were comparable with those in polluted natural river water and industrial wastewater. High adsorptive capacities for Ag⁺ (123.05mg/g) and Pb²⁺ (227.70mg/g) were achieved using the synthesized zeolite A. This observation indicates that the zeolite A synthesized from alkaline-assisted pre-activated halloysite can be used as a low-cost and relatively effective adsorbent to purify heavy metal cation polluted natural river water and industrial wastewater.

Production and Application of Lignosulfonates and Sulfonated Lignin

Lignin is the largest reservoir of aromatic compounds on earth and has great potential to be used in many industrial applications. Alternative methods to produce lignosulfonates from spent sulfite pulping liquors and kraft lignin from black liquor of kraft pulping process are critically reviewed herein. Furthermore, options to increase the sulfonate contents of lignin-based products are outlined and the industrial attractiveness of them is evaluated. This evaluation includes sulfonation and sulfomethylation of lignin. To increase the sulfomethylation efficiency of lignin, various scenarios, including hydrolysis, oxidation, and hydroxymethylation, were compared. The application of sulfonated lignin-based products is assessed and the impact of the properties of these products on the characteristics of their end-use application is critically evaluated. Sulfonated lignin-based products have been used as dispersants in cement admixtures and dye solutions more than other applications, and their molecular weight and degree of sulfonation were crucial in determining their efficiency. The use of lignin-based sulfonated products in composites may result in an increase in the hydrophilicity of some composites, but the sulfonated products may need to be desulfonated with an alkali and/or oxygen prior to their use in composites. To be used as a flocculant, sulfonated lignin-based products may need to be cross-linked to increase their molecular weight. The challenges associated with the use of lignin-based products in these applications are comprehensively discussed herein.

Improving the enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute acid pretreated wheat straw by metal ion blocking of non-productive cellulase adsorption on lignin

Eleven salts were selected to screen the possible metal ions for blocking the non-productive adsorption of cellulase onto the lignin of dilute acid pretreated wheat straw. Mg(2+) was screened finally as the promising candidate. The optimal concentration of MgCl2 was 1 mM, but the beneficial action was also dependent on pH, hydrolysis time and cellulase loading. Significant improvement of glucan conversion (19.3%) was observed at low cellulase loading (5 FPU/g solid). Addition of isolated lignins, tannic acid and lignin model compounds to pure cellulose hydrolysis demonstrated that phenolic hydroxyl group (Ph-OH) was the main active site blocked by Mg(2+). The interaction between Mg(2+) and Ph-OH of lignin monomeric moieties followed an order of p-hydroxyphenyl (H)>guaiacyl (G)>syringyl (S). Mg(2+) blocking made the lignin surface less negatively charged, which might weaken the hydrogen bonding and electrostatically attractive interaction between lignin and cellulase enzymes.

Metal-Carbon Hybrid Electrocatalysts Derived from Ion-Exchange Resin Containing Heavy Metals for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Transition metal-carbon hybrids have been proposed as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media. Herein, effective HER electrocatalysts based on metal-carbon composites are prepared by controlled pyrolysis of resin containing a variety of heavy metals. For the first time, Cr2 O3 nanoparticles of 3-6 nm in diameter homogeneously dispersed in the resulting porous carbon framework (Cr-C hybrid) is synthesized as efficient HER electrocatalyst. Electrochemical measurements show that Cr-C hybrids display a high HER activity with an onset potential of -49 mV (vs reversible hydrogen electrode), a Tafel slope of 90 mV dec(-1) , a large catalytic current density of 10 mA cm(-2) at -123 mV, and the prominent electrochemical durability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements confirm that electron transfer occurs from Cr2 O3 into carbon, which is consistent with the reported metal@carbon systems. The obtained correlation between metals and HER activities may be exploited as a rational guideline in the design and engineering of HER electrocatalysts.

Enhanced adsorption of Cu(ii) ions on chitosan microspheres functionalized with polyethylenimine-conjugated poly(glycidyl methacrylate) brushes

Crosslinked chitosan microspheres were tethered with branched polyethylenimine-conjugated poly(glycidyl methacrylate) brushes via surface-initiated ATRP and were further utilized as novel adsorbent to purify Cu(ii)-contaminated aqueous solution​.

Lignin supracolloids synthesized from (W/O) microemulsions: use in the interfacial stabilization of Pickering systems and organic carriers for silver metal

Taking advantage of the aromatic and cross-linking tendency of lignin macromolecules extracted from plants, we present a novel method for their assembly into supracolloidal structures. Specifically, spherical particles with controllable size (∼90 nm to 1 μm) were obtained from water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions formulated with a mixture of nonionic surfactants and a colloidal dispersion of a low molecular weight alkali lignin. After spontaneous emulsification, the internal lignin-rich phase was cross-linked to produce the solid particles that could be easily separated by removal of the organic, continuous phase. The efficiency of the fractionated lignin particles to stabilize hexadecane-in-water Pickering emulsions was demonstrated and their properties were compared against those obtained by using traditional inorganic particles. The effect of the particle size of lignin on the emulsion structure is discussed. As a proof of concept we further introduce the use of related emulsions to enable in situ reduction of silver and loading of silver nanoparticles in lignin carriers.

Fe(iii)-catalyzed grafting copolymerization of lignin with styrene and methyl methacrylate through AGET ATRP using triphenyl phosphine as a ligand

A novel, effective and environment friendly Fe(iii)-catalyzed AGET ATRP has been presented to carry out the grafting copolymerization of lignin with styrene and methyl methacrylate for the first time.