Hollow Polyaniline Microsphere/Fe3O4 Nanocomposite as an Effective Adsorbent for Removal of Arsenic from Water

Recent Advancements in the Field of Chitosan/Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites for Maximizing Arsenic Removal from Aqueous Environment

Water remediation, acknowledged as a significant scientific topic, guarantees the safety of drinking water, considering the diverse range of pollutants that can contaminate it. Among these pollutants, arsenic stands out as a particularly severe threat to human health, significantly compromising the overall quality of life. Despite widespread awareness of the harmful effects of arsenic poisoning, there remains a scarcity of literature on the utilization of biobased polymers as sustainable alternatives for comprehensive arsenic removal in practical concern. Cellulose and chitosan, two of the most prevalent biopolymers in nature, provide a wide range of potential benefits in cutting-edge industries, including water remediation. Nanocomposites derived from cellulose and chitosan offer numerous advantages over their larger equivalents, including high chelating properties, cost-effective production, strength, integrity during usage, and the potential to close the recycling loop. Within the sphere of arsenic remediation, this Review outlines the selection criteria for novel cellulose/chitosan-nanocomposites, such as scalability in synthesis, complete arsenic removal, and recyclability for technical significance. Especially, it aims to give an overview of the historical development of research in cellulose and chitosan, techniques for enhancing their performance, the current state of the art of the field, and the mechanisms underlying the adsorption of arsenic using cellulose/chitosan nanocomposites. Additionally, it extensively discusses the impact of shape and size on adsorbent efficiency, highlighting the crucial role of physical characteristics in optimizing performance for practical applications. Furthermore, this Review addresses regeneration, reuse, and future prospects for chitosan/cellulose-nanocomposites, which bear practical relevance. Therefore, this Review underscores the significant research gap and offers insights into refining the structural features of adsorbents to improve total inorganic arsenic removal, thereby facilitating the transition of green-material-based technology into operational use.

Cellulose nanocrystal-based polymer hydrogel embedded with iron oxide nanorods for efficient arsenic removal

A cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) polymer hydrogel containing magnetic iron oxide nanorods (Fe3O4NRs) was prepared for As(III) removal in water. Systematic studies on the performance of these prepared CNC-based composite hydrogels for the removal of As(III) have been undertaken. The maximum adsorption capacity of the CNC-g-PAA/qP4VP (CPqP) hydrogel was 241.3 mg/g. After introduction of Fe3O4NRs in the hydrogel, the maximum adsorption capacity of the resulting Fe3O4NRs@CNC-g-PAA/qP4VP (FN@CPqP) hydrogel was further improved to 263.0 mg/g. The high adsorption performance can be attributed to the facts that the 3D interconnected porous network of the hydrogel allows As species to easily enter into the hydrogel, the quaternized P4VP chains provides more adsorption sites, Fe3O4NRs uniformly distributed in the internal cavity of the hydrogel significantly reduces the nanoparticle aggregation. The adsorption kinetics indicated that the adsorption of arsenic by the hydrogel was mainly chemisorption. The isotherm analysis revealed that the adsorption of arsenic by the hydrogel was principally monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface. Moreover, the as-prepared CNC-based polymer hydrogels exhibited good stability and reusability with negligible performance loss after five adsorption-desorption cycles. The novel FN@CPqP hydrogel demonstrates great potential as a cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of arsenic contaminants from wastewater.

Polyoxometalate nanocluster-infused triple IPN hydrogels for excellent microplastic removal from contaminated water: detection, photodegradation, and upcycling

Microplastic (MP) pollution pervades global ecosystems, originating from improper plastic disposal and fragmentation due to factors like hydrolysis and biodegradation. These minute particles, less than 5 mm in size, have become omnipresent, impacting terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments worldwide. Their ubiquity poses severe threats to marine life by causing physical harm and potentially transferring toxins through the food chain. Addressing this environmental crisis necessitates a sustainable strategy. Our proposed solution involves a highly efficient copper substitute polyoxometalate (Cu-POM) nanocluster infused triple interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel, comprising chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and polyaniline (PANI) (referred to as pGel@IPN) for mitigating MP contamination from water. This 3D IPN architecture, incorporating nanoclusters, also enhances the hydrogel's photodegradation capabilities. Our scalable approach offers a sustainable strategy to combat MPs in water bodies, as demostrated by the adsorption behaviors on the hydrogel matrix under varying conditions, simulating real-world scenarios. Evaluations of physicochemical properties, mechanical strength, and thermal behavior underscore the hydrogel's robustness and stability. Detecting minute MP particles remains challenging, prompting us to label MPs with Nile red for fluorescence microscopic analysis of their concentration and adsorption on the hydrogel. The catalytic properties of POM within the hydrogel facilitate UV-induced MP degradation, highlighting a sustainable solution. Our detailed kinetics and isotherm studies revealed pseudo-first-order and Langmuir models as fitting descriptors for MP adsorption, exhibiting a high maximum adsorption capacity (Qm). Notably, pGel@IPN achieved ∼95% and ∼93% removal efficiencies for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP) MPs at pH ∼ 6.5, respectively, also demonstrating reusability for up to 5 cycles. Post-end-of-life, the spent adsorbent was efficiently upcycled into carbon nanomaterials, effectively removing the heavy metal Cr(VI), exemplifying circular economy principles. Our prepared hydrogel emerges as a potent solution for MP removal from water, promising effective mitigation of the emerging pollutants of MPs while ensuring sustainable environmental practices.

In situconstruction of N-doped Ti3C2Txconfined worm-like Fe2O3nanoparticles by Fe-O-Ti bonding for LIBs anode with superior cycle performance

The development of Fe2O3as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode is greatly restricted by its poor electronic conductivity and structural stability. To solve these issues, this work presentsin situconstruction of three-dimensional crumpled Fe2O3@N-Ti3C2Txcomposite by solvothermal-freeze-drying process, in which wormlike Fe2O3nanoparticles (10-50 nm)in situnucleated and grew on the surface of N-doped Ti3C2Txnanosheets with Fe-O-Ti bonding. As a conductive matrix, N-doping endows Ti3C2Txwith more active sites and higher electron transfer efficiency. Meanwhile, Fe-O-Ti bonding enhances the stability of the Fe2O3/N-Ti3C2Txinterface and also acts as a pathway for electron transmission. With a large specific surface area (114.72 m2g-1), the three-dimensional crumpled structure of Fe2O3@N-Ti3C2Txfacilitates the charge diffusion kinetics and enables easier exposure of the active sites. Consequently, Fe2O3@N-Ti3C2Txcomposite exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance as anode for LIBs, a reversible capacity of 870.2 mAh g-1after 500 cycles at 0.5 A g-1, 1129 mAh g-1after 280 cycles at 0.2 A g-1and 777.6 mAh g-1after 330 cycles at 1 A g-1.

Ferritin-nanocaged copper arsenite minerals with oxidative stress-amplifying activity for targeted cancer therapy

We report copper(II) arsenite-encapsulated ferritin nanoparticles (CuAS-FNs) as oxidative stress-amplifying anticancer agents. The CuAS-FNs were fabricated through CuAS mineralization in the cavity of the FNs. The formation of crystalline CuAS complex minerals in the FNs was systematically identified using various analytical tools, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-associated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). The CuAS-FNs showed pH-dependent release behavior, in which the CuAS mineral was effectively retained at physiological pH, in contrast, at lysosomal pH, the CuAS complex was dissociated to release arsenite and Cu2+ ions. At lysosomal pH, the release rate of arsenite (HAsO32-) and Cu2+ ions from the CuAS-FNs more accelerated than at physiological pH. Upon transferrin receptor-1-mediated endocytosis, the CuAS-FNs simultaneously released arsenite and Cu2+ ions in cells. The released arsenite ions can increase the intracellular concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), with which the Cu2+ ions can elevate the level of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) via Fenton-like reaction. Thus, the CuAS-FNs could target cancer cell through the recognizing ability of FNs and kill cancer cells by amplifying the ·OH level through the synergistic activity of Cu2+ and arsenic ions. Importantly, MCF-7 tumors were effectively suppressed by CuAS-FNs without systemic in vivo toxicity. Therefore, the CuAS-FNs is a promising class of Fenton-like catalytic nanosystem for cancer treatment.

Ease of Electrochemical Arsenate Dissolution from FeAsO4 Microparticles during Alkaline Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Transition metal-based ABO4-type materials have now been paid significant attention due to their excellent electrochemical activity. However, a detailed study to understand the active species and its electro-evolution pathway is not traditionally performed. Herein, FeAsO4, a bimetallic ABO4-type oxide, has been prepared solvothermally. In-depth microscopic and spectroscopic studies showed that the as-synthesized cocoon-like FeAsO4 microparticles consist of several small individual nanocrystals with a mixture of monoclinic and triclinic phases. While depositing FeAsO4 on three-dimensional nickel foam (NF), it can show oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a moderate operating potential. During the electrochemical activation of the FeAsO4/NF anode through cyclic voltammetric (CV) cycles prior to the OER study, an exponential increment in the current density (j) was observed. An ex situ Raman study with the electrode along with field emission scanning electron microscopy imaging showed that the pronounced OER activity with increasing number of CV cycles is associated with a rigorous morphological and chemical change, which is followed by [AsO4]3- leaching from FeAsO4. A chronoamperometric study and subsequent spectro- and microscopic analyses of the isolated sample from the electrode show an amorphous γ-FeO(OH) formation at the constant potential condition. The in situ formation of FeO(OH)ED (ED indicates electrochemically derived) shows better activity compared to pristine FeAsO4 and independently prepared FeO(OH). Tafel, impedance spectroscopic study, and determination of electrochemical surface area have inferred that the in situ formed FeO(OH)ED shows better electro-kinetics and possesses higher surface active sites compared to its parent FeAsO4. In this study, the electrochemical activity of FeAsO4 has been correlated with its structural integrity and unravels its electro-activation pathway by characterizing the active species for OER.

As(III) removal from aqueous solutions using simultaneous oxidation and adsorption process by hierarchically magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite

In the present study, a magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal method and applied for As(III) removal by oxidation and adsorption process. Individual property of the entire material (i.e. magnetic property of Fe3O4, mesoporous surface property of C-dot and oxidation property of MnO2) make the composite efficient with good adsorption capacity for As(III) adsorption. The Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite had a saturation magnetization of 26.37 emu/g and it magnetically separated within 40 s. The Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite was able to reduce the 0.5 mg/L concentration of As(III) to 0.001 mg/L in just 150 min at pH 3. Pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model agreed with experimental data. The uptake capacity of Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite was 42.68 mg/g. The anions like chloride, sulphate and nitrate did not show any effect on removal but carbonate and phosphate influenced the As(III) removal rate. Regeneration was studied with NaOH and NaClO solution and the adsorbent was used for repeated five cycles above 80% removal capacity. The XPS studies proposed that As(III) first oxidized to As(V) then adsorb on the composite surface. This study shows the potential applicability of Fe3O4@C-dot@MnO2 nanocomposite to high extent and gives a suitable path for the proficient removal of As(III) from wastewater.

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

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

As(III) removal by a recyclable granular adsorbent through dopping Fe-Mn binary oxides into graphene oxide chitosan

Graphene oxide chitosan composite (GOCS) is recognized as an environmentally friendly composite adsorbent because of its stability and abundant functional groups to adsorb heavy metals, and Fe-Mn binary oxides (FMBO) have attracted increasing interest due to their high removal capacity of As(III). However, GOCS is often inefficient for heavy metal adsorption and FMBO suffers poor regeneration for As(III) removal. In this study, we have proposed a method of dopping FMBO into GOCS to obtain a recyclable granular adsorbent (Fe/MnGOCS) for achieving As(III) removal from aqueous solutions. Characterization of BET, SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, and XPS are carried out to confirm the formation of Fe/MnGOCS and As(III) removal mechanism. Batch experiments are conducted to investigate the effects of operational factors (pH, dosage, coexisting ions, etc.), as well as kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic processes. Results show that the removal efficiency (R_e) of As(III) by Fe/MnGOCS is about 96 %, which is much higher than those of FeGOCS (66 %), MnGOCS (42 %), and GOCS (8 %), and it increases slightly with the increasing molar ratio of Mn and Fe. This is because amorphous Fe (hydro)oxides (mainly in the form of ferrihydrite) complexation with As(III) is the major mechanism to remove As(III) from aqueous solutions, and it is accompanied by As(III) oxidation mediated by Mn oxides and the complexation of As(III) with oxygen-containing functional groups of GOCS. Charge interaction plays a weaker role in As(III) adsorption, therefore R_e is persistently high over a wide range of pH values of 3-10. But the coexisting PO₄^3- can greatly decrease R_e by 24.11 %. As(III) adsorption on Fe/MnGOCS is endothermic and its kinetic process is controlled by pseudo-second-order with a determination coefficient of 0.95. Fitted by the Langmuir isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacity is 108.89 mg/g at 25 °C. After four times regeneration, there is only a slight decrease of <10 % for the R_e value. Column adsorption experiments show that Fe/MnGOCS can effectively reduce As(III) concentration from 10 mg/L to <10 μg/L. This study provides new insights into binary polymer composite modified by binary metal oxides to efficiently remove heavy metals from aquatic environments.

Understanding the adsorption of iron oxide nanomaterials in magnetite and bimetallic form for the removal of arsenic from water

Arsenic decontamination is a major worldwide concern as prolonged exposure to arsenic (&gt;10 µg L-1) through drinking water causes serious health hazards in human beings. The selection of significant, cost-effective, and affordable processes for arsenic removal is the need of the hour. For the last decades, iron-oxide nanomaterials (either in the magnetite or bimetallic form) based adsorptive process gained attention owing to their high arsenic removal efficiency and high regenerative capacity as well as low yield of harmful by-products. In the current state-of-the-art, a comprehensive literature review was conducted focused on the applicability of iron-based nanomaterials for arsenic removal by considering three main factors: (a) compilation of arsenic removal efficiency, (b) identifying factors that are majorly affecting the process of arsenic adsorption and needs further investigation, and (c) regeneration capacity of adsorbents without affecting the removal process. The results revealed that magnetite and bimetallic nanomaterials are more effective for removing Arsenic (III) and Arsenic (V). Further, magnetite-based nanomaterials could be used up to five to six reuse cycles, whereas this value varied from three to six reuse cycles for bimetallic ones. However, most of the literature was based on laboratory findings using decided protocols and sophisticated instruments. It cannot be replicated under natural aquatic settings in the occurrence of organic contents, fluctuating pH and temperature, and interfering compounds. The primary rationale behind this study is to provide a comparative picture of arsenic removal through different iron-oxide nanomaterials (last twelve yearsof published literature) and insights into future research directions.

Nanotechnology- A ray of hope for heavy metals removal

Environmental effects of heavy metal pollution are considered as a widespread problem throughout the world, as it jeopardizes human health and also reduces the sustainability of a cleaner environment. Removal of such noxious pollutants from wastewater is pivotal because it provides a propitious solution for a cleaner environment and water scarcity. Adsorption treatment plays a significant role in water remediation due to its potent treatment and low cost of adsorbents. In the last two decades, researchers have been highly focused on the modification of adsorption treatment by functionalized and surface-modified nanomaterials which has spurred intense research. The characteristics of nano adsorbents attract global scientists as it is also economically viable. This review shines its light on the functionalized nanomaterials application for heavy metals removal from wastewater and also highlights the importance of regeneration of nanomaterials in the view of visualizing the economic aspects along with a cleaner environment. The review also focused on the proper disposal of nanomaterials with crucial issues that persist in the adsorption process and also emphasize future research modification at a large-scale application in industries.

Recent developments of magnetic nanoadsorbents for remediation of arsenic from aqueous stream

One of the emerging environmental concerns is the high levels of arsenic ions found in groundwater and other water sources. Decontaminating water that contains arsenic is crucial for environmental and health reasons. Nano-adsorbents have gained much interest recently for the adsorptive removal of arsenic species from wastewater. On the other hand, for their prospective use in natural water treatment, current nano-adsorbents must be separated from treated fluids. Researchers studied nanocomposite iron oxide-based adsorbents to overcome these problems and to design effective sorbents for removing arsenic. This study provides a summary of current developments in the field of magnetic nanoadsorbents for the removal of various arsenic compounds from wastewater. Adsorption of arsenic from groundwater has been found to be very promising for magnetic nanoadsorbents. In order to eliminate arsenic from the aqueous phase, magnetic nanocomposite adsorbents may offer practical and affordable water purification solutions.

Novel magnetic Fe@NSC nanohybrid material for arsenic removal from aqueous media

Polymer-derived carbon nanohybrids present a remarkable potential for the elimination of water pollutants. Herein, an Fe-modified C, N, and S (Fe@NSC) nanohybrid network, synthesized via polymerization of aniline followed by calcination, is used for As removal from aquatic media. The Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models fit well the experimental data for the adsorptive removal of As(III) and As(V) by the as-synthesized Fe@NSC nanohybrid, indicating that adsorption is a monolayer chemisorption process. The maximum adsorption capacities of the fabricated Fe@NSC nanohybrid for As(III) and As(V) were 129.54 and 178.65 mg/g, respectively, which are considerably higher than those reported previously for other adsorbents. In particular, the Fe₃O₄/FeS nanoparticles (18.4-38.7 nm) of the prepared Fe@NSC nanohybrid play a critical role in As adsorption and oxidation. Spectroscopy data indicate that the adsorption of As on Fe@NSC nanohybrid involved oxidation, ligand exchange, surface complexation, and electrostatic attraction. Furthermore, the magnetic Fe@NSC nanohybrid was easily separated after As adsorption using an external magnet and did not induce acute toxicity (48 h) in Daphnia magna. Moreover, the Fe@NSC nanohybrid selectively removed As species in the presence of competing anions and was effectively regenerated for up to three cycles using a 0.1 M HNO₃ solution. These findings suggest that Fe@NSC nanohybrid is a promising adsorbent for As remediation in aquatic media.

Development of novel Core-shell impregnated polyuronate composite beads for an eco-efficient removal of arsenic

Arsenic (As) can geogenically and anthropogenically contaminate the potable water resources and undoubtedly reduces its availability for human consumption. To circumvent this predicament, present study focuses on the development of a novel biosorbent by impregnating calcium cross-linked polyuronate (alginate) beads (CABs) with bilayer-oleic coated magnetite nanoparticles (CAB@BOFe) for As(V) removal. Initially, the system parameters (i.e., adsorbents dose (0.1- 3.0 g L-1), pH (4.0-13), reaction times (0-180 min) and sorbate concentrations (10-150 µg L-1)) were optimized to establish adsorbent at the lab-scale. CAB@BOFe had higher monolayer (ad)sorption capacity (∼62.5 µg g-1, 120 min) than CABs (∼17.9 µg g-1, 180 min). Electrostatic/Ion-dipole interactions and surface-complexation mechanisms mediated As(V) sorption onto CAB@BOFe mainly obeyed Langmuir isotherm (R2 ∼ 0.9) and well described by intraparticle diffusion process. Furthermore, it demonstrated an excellent arsenate removal performance from the single/multiple anionic contaminants simulated water samples which supported its prospective field applicability.

Design strategies, surface functionalization, and environmental remediation potentialities of polymer-functionalized nanocomposites

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have a tunable shape, size, surface morphology, and unique physical properties like catalytic, magnetic, electronic, and optical capabilities. Unlike inorganic nanomaterials, organic polymers exhibit excellent stability, biocompatibility, and processability with a tailored response to external stimuli, including pH, heat, light, and degradation properties. Nano-sized assemblies derived from inorganic and polymeric NPs are combined in a functionalized composite form to import high strength and synergistically promising features not reflected in their part as a single constituent. These new properties of polymer/inorganic functionalized materials have led to emerging applications in a variety of fields, such as environmental remediation, drug delivery, and imaging. This review spotlights recent advances in the design and construction of polymer/inorganic functionalized materials with improved attributes compared to single inorganic and polymeric materials for environmental sustainability. Following an introduction, a comprehensive review of the design and potential applications of polymer/inorganic materials for removing organic pollutants and heavy metals from wastewater is presented. We have offered valuable suggestions for piloting, and scaling-up polymer functionalized nanomaterials using simple concepts. This review is wrapped up with a discussion of perspectives on future research in the field.

Magnetic nanocomposite adsorbents for abatement of arsenic species from water and wastewater

The presence of high concentrations of arsenic species in drinking water and other water bodies has become one of the most critical environmental concerns. Therefore, decontamination of arsenic-containing water is essential for improved health and environmental concern. In recent years, nano-adsorbents have been widely used for the adsorptive removal of arsenic from water. Separating existing nano-adsorbents from treated waters, on the other hand, is a critical issue for their potential applications in natural water treatment. To address these issues and to effectively remove arsenic from water, researchers looked at iron oxide-based magnetic nanocomposite adsorbents. The magnetic nanoadsorbents have the benefit of surface functionalization, making it easier to target a specific pollutant for adsorption, and magnetic separation. In addition, magnetic nanoparticles have a large surface area, high chemical inertness, superparamagnetic, high magnetic susceptibility, small particle size, and large specific surface area, and are especially easily separated in a magnetic field. Magnetic nano-adsorbents have been discovered to have a lot of potential for eliminating arsenic from water. The recent advances in magnetic nano-absorbents for the cleanup of arsenic species from water are summarized in this paper. Future perspectives and directions were also discussed in this article. This will help budding researchers for the further advancement of magnetic nanocomposites for the treatment of water and wastewater contaminated with arsenic.

On As(III) Adsorption Characteristics of Innovative Magnetite Graphene Oxide Chitosan Microsphere

A magnetite graphene oxide chitosan (MGOCS) composite microsphere was specifically prepared to efficiently adsorb As(III) from aqueous solutions. The characterization analysis of BET, XRD, VSM, TG, FTIR, XPS, and SEM-EDS was used to identify the characteristics and adsorption mechanism. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the effects of the operational parameters and to evaluate the adsorption kinetic and equilibrium isotherm. The results show that the MGOCS composite microsphere with a particle size of about 1.5 mm can be prepared by a straightforward method of dropping FeCl2, graphene oxide (GO), and chitosan (CS) mixtures into NaOH solutions and then drying the mixed solutions at 45 °C. The produced MGOCS had a strong thermal stability with a mass loss of <30% below 620 °C. The specific surface area and saturation magnetization of the produced MGOCS was 66.85 m2/g and 24.35 emu/g, respectively. The As(III) adsorption capacity (Qe) and removal efficiency (Re) was only 0.25 mg/g and 5.81% for GOCS, respectively. After 0.08 mol of Fe3O4 modification, more than 53% of As(III) was efficiently removed by the formed MGOCS from aqueous solutions over a wide pH range of 5−10, and this was almost unaffected by temperature. The coexisting ion of PO43− decreased Qe from 3.81 mg/g to 1.32 mg/g, but Mn2+ increased Qe from 3.50 mg/g to 4.19 mg/g. The As(III) adsorption fitted the best to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the maximum Qe was 20.72 mg/g as fitted by the Sips model. After four times regeneration, the Re value of As(III) slightly decreased from 76.2% to 73.8%, and no secondary pollution of Fe happened. Chemisorption is the major mechanism for As(III) adsorption, and As(III) was adsorbed on the surface and interior of the MGOCS, while the adsorbed As(III) was partially oxidized to As(V) accompanied by the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II). The produced As(V) was further adsorbed through ligand exchange (by forming Fe−O−As complexes) and electrostatic attraction, enhancing the As(III) removal. As an easily prepared and environmental-friendly composite, MGOCS not only greatly adsorbs As(III) but also effectively removes Cr(VI) and As(V) (Re > 60%) and other metals, showing a great advantage in the treatment of heavy metal-contaminated water.

Polyaniline-Derived Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanostructures with Different Morphologies as Anode Modifier in Microbial Fuel Cells

Anode modification with carbon nanomaterials is an important strategy for the improvement of microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. The presence of nitrogen in the carbon network, introduced as active nitrogen functional groups, is considered beneficial for anode modification. In this aim, nitrogen-containing carbon nanostructures (NCNs) with different morphologies were obtained via carbonization of polyaniline and were further investigated as anode modifiers in MFCs. The present study investigates the influence of NCN morphology on the changes in the anodic microbial community and MFC performance. Results show that the nanofibrillar morphology of NCNs is beneficial for the improvement of MFC performance, with a maximum power density of 40.4 mW/m2, 1.25 times higher than the anode modified with carbonized polyaniline with granular morphology and 2.15 times higher than MFC using the carbon cloth-anode. The nanofibrillar morphology, due to the well-defined individual nanofibers separated by microgaps and micropores and a better organization of the carbon network, leads to a larger specific surface area and higher conductivity, which can allow more efficient substrate transport and better bacterial colonization with greater relative abundances of Geobacter and Thermoanaerobacter, justifying the improvement of MFC performance.

Synthesis and Characterization of Green ZnO@polynaniline/Bentonite Tripartite Structure (G.Zn@PN/BE) as Adsorbent for As (V) Ions: Integration, Steric, and Energetic Properties

A green ZnO@polynaniline/bentonite composite (G.Zn@PN/BE) was synthesized as an enhanced adsorbent for As (V) ions. Its adsorption properties were assessed in comparison with the integrated components of bentonite (BE) and polyaniline/bentonite (PN/BE) composites. The G.Zn@PN/BE composite achieved an As (V) retention capacity (213 mg/g) higher than BE (72.7 mg/g) and PN/BE (119.8 mg/g). The enhanced capacity of G.Zn@PN/BE was studied using classic (Langmuir) and advanced equilibrium (monolayer model of one energy) models. Considering the steric properties, the structure of G.Zn@PN/BE demonstrated a higher density of active sites (Nm = 109.8 (20 °C), 108.9 (30 °C), and 67.8 mg/g (40 °C)) than BE and PN/BE. This declared the effect of the integration process in inducing the retention capacity by increasing the quantities of the active sites. The number of adsorbed As (V) ions per site (1.76 up to 2.13) signifies the retention of two or three ions per site by a multi-ionic mechanism. The adsorption energies (from -3.07 to -3.26 kJ/mol) suggested physical retention mechanisms (hydrogen bonding and dipole bonding forces). The adsorption energy, internal energy, and free enthalpy reflected the exothermic, feasible, and spontaneous nature of the retention process. The structure is of significant As (V) uptake capacity in the existence of competitive anions or metal ions.

Ball-milled magnetite for efficient arsenic decontamination: Insights into oxidation-adsorption mechanism

Conventional adsorbents for decontaminating arsenic exhibit low efficacy for the removal of arsenite (As(III)). This study aims to develop a robust As adsorbent from natural magnetite (M₀) via a facile ball milling process, and evaluate their performance for decontaminating As(III) and As(V) in water and soil systems. The ball milling process decreased the particle size and crystallinity of M₀, resulting in pronounced As removal by the ball-milled magnetite (M_m). Ball milling under air facilitated the formation of Fe-OH and Fe-COOH functional groups on M_m interface, contributing to effective elimination of As(III) and As(V) via hydrogen bonding and complexation mechanisms. Synergistic oxidation effects of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, and reactive oxygen species (O₂^·-, and ·OH) on the transformation of As(III) to As(V) during the adsorption were proposed to explain the enhanced As(III) removal by M_m. A short-term soil incubation experiment indicated that the addition of M_m (10 wt%) induced a decrease in the concentration of exchangeable As by 30.25%, and facilitated the transformation of water-soluble As into residual fraction. Ball milling thus is considered as an eco-friendly (chemical-free) and inexpensive (scalable, one-stage process) method for upgrading the performance of natural magnetite towards remediating As, particularly for tackling the highly mobile As(III).

An environmentally benign synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to Fe3O4 nanoclusters: Rapid separation and removal of Hg(II) from an aqueous medium

In the field of nanotechnology, nanoadsorbents have emerged as a powerful tool for the purification of contaminated aqueous environments. Among the variety of nanoadsorbents developed so far, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles have drawn particular interest because of their quick separation, low cost, flexibility, reproducibility, and environmentally benign nature. Herein, we describe a new strategy for the synthesis of Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters, which is based on the use of naturally available edible mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii) and environmentally benign propylene glycol as a solvent medium. By tuning the temperature, we successfully convert Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters via hydrothermal treatment, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy. The Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters are functionalized with an organic molecule linker (dihydrolipoic acid, DHLA) to remove hazardous Hg(II) ions selectively. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrate that Hg(II) ions are strongly adsorbed on the material surface, and X-ray photoelectron and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques reveal the Hg(II) removal mechanism. The DHLA@Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters show a high removal efficiency of 99.2 % with a maximum Hg(II) removal capacity of 140.84 mg g^-1. A kinetic study shows that the adsorption equilibrium is rapidly reached within 60 min and follows a pseudo second-order kinetic model. The adsorption and separation system can be readily recycled using an external magnet when the separation occurs within 10 s. We have studied the effect of various factors on the adsorption process, including pH, concentration, dosage, and temperature. The newly synthesized superparamagnetic DHLA@Fe₃O₄ nanoclusters open a new path for further development of the medical, catalysis, and environmental fields.

Hollow Polyaniline Microsphere/MnO2/Fe3O4 Nanocomposites in Adsorptive Removal of Toxic Dyes from Contaminated Water

Dyes are considered as recalcitrant compounds and are not easily removed through conventional water treatment processes. The present study demonstrated the fabrication of polyaniline hollow microsphere (PNHM)/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ composites by in situ deposition of MnO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on the surface of PNHM. The physicochemical characteristics and adsorption behavior of the prepared PNHM/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ composites towards the removal of toxic methyl green (MG) and Congo red (CR) dyes have been investigated. The characterization study revealed the successful synthesis of the prepared PNHM/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ adsorbent with a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 191.79 m²/g. The batch adsorption study showed about 88 and 98% adsorption efficiencies for MG and CR dyes, respectively, at an optimum dose of 1 g/L of PNHM/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ at pH ∼6.75 at room temperature (303 ± 3 K). The adsorption phenomena of MG and CR dyes were well described by the Elovich and pseudo-second-order kinetics, respectively, and Freundlich isotherm model. The thermodynamics study shows that the adsorption reactions were endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q_max) for MG and CR dyes was observed as 1142.13 and 599.49 mg/g, respectively. The responsible adsorption mechanisms involved in dye removal were electrostatic interaction, ion exchange, and the formation of the covalent bonds. The coexisting ion study revealed that the presence of phosphate co-ion considerably reduced the CR dye removal efficiency. However, the desorption-regeneration study demonstrated the successful reuse of the spent PNHM/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ material for the adsorption of MG and CR dyes for several cycles. Given the aforementioned findings, the PNHM/MnO₂/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites could be considered as a promising adsorbent for the remediation of dye-contaminated water.

Differentiating Nanomaghemite and Nanomagnetite and Discussing Their Importance in Arsenic and Lead Removal from Contaminated Effluents: A Critical Review

Arsenic and lead heavy metals are polluting agents still present in water bodies, including surface (lake, river) and underground waters; consequently, the development of new adsorbents is necessary to uptake these metals with high efficiency, quick and clean removal procedures. Magnetic nanoparticles, prepared with iron-oxides, are excellent candidates to achieve this goal due to their ecofriendly features, high catalytic response, specific surface area, and pulling magnetic response that favors an easy removal. In particular, nanomagnetite and maghemite are often found as the core and primary materials regarding magnetic nanoadsorbents. However, these phases show interesting distinct physical properties (especially in their surface magnetic properties) but are not often studied regarding correlations between the surface properties and adsorption applications, for instance. Thus, in this review, we summarize the main characteristics of the co-precipitation and thermal decomposition methods used to prepare the nano-iron-oxides, being the co-precipitation method most promising for scaling up processes. We specifically highlight the main differences between both nano-oxide species based on conventional techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, zero and in-field Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, the latter two techniques performed with synchrotron light. Therefore, we classify the most recent magnetic nanoadsorbents found in the literature for arsenic and lead removal, discussing in detail their advantages and limitations based on various physicochemical parameters, such as temperature, competitive and coexisting ion effects, i.e., considering the simultaneous adsorption removal (heavy metal-heavy metal competition and heavy metal-organic removal), initial concentration, magnetic adsorbent dose, adsorption mechanism based on pH and zeta potential, and real water adsorption experiments. We also discuss the regeneration/recycling properties, after-adsorption physicochemical properties, and the cost evaluation of these magnetic nanoadsorbents, which are important issues, but less discussed in the literature.

Facile green synthesis of ZnO-CdWO4 nanoparticles and their potential as adsorbents to remove organic dye

In this work, ZnO-CdWO₄ nanoparticles have been synthesized by the ecofriendly green method with lemon leaf extract to favorably anchor functional groups on their surface. The prepared ZnO-CdWO₄ nanoparticles are used as adsorbent to treat Congo red (CR) dye after characterization through FT-IR, UV-Vis, TEM, SEM-EDX, and HRTEM techniques. The equilibrium partition coefficient and adsorption capacity values for CR by ZnO-CdWO₄ are estimated as 21.4 mg g^-1 μM^-1 and 5 mg g^-1, respectively (at an initial dye concentration of 10 mg L^-1). The adsorption process is found as exothermic and spontaneous, as determined by the ΔG°, ΔS°, and ΔH° values. The Boyd plot has been used as a confirmatory tool to fit the adsorption kinetics data along with intraparticle diffusion and pseudo-second-order models. Based on this research, ZnO-CdWO₄ nanoparticles are validated as an effective adsorbent for CR dye in aqueous solutions.

Geogenic arsenic removal through core-shell based functionalized nanoparticles: Groundwater in-situ treatment perspective in the post-COVID anthropocene

Groundwater, one of the significant potable water resources of the geological epoch is certainly contaminated with class I human carcinogenic metalloid of pnictogen family which delimiting its usability for human consumption. Hence, this study concerns with the elimination of arsenate (As(V)) from groundwater using bilayer-oleic coated iron-oxide nanoparticles (bilayer-OA@FeO NPs). The functionalized (with high-affinity carboxyl groups) adsorbent was characterized using the state-of-the-art techniques in order to understand the structural arrangement. The major emphasis was to examine the effects of pH (5.0-13), contact times (0-120 min), initial concentrations (10-150 μg L^-1), adsorbent dosages (0.1-3 g L^-1), and co-existing anions in order to understand the optimal experimental conditions for the effective removal process. The adsorbent had better adsorption efficiency (∼ 32.8 μg g^-1, after 2 h) for As(V) at neutral pH. Adsorption process mainly followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich isotherm models (R²∼0.90) and was facilitated by coulombic, charge-dipole and surface complexation interactions. The regeneration (upto five cycles with 0.1 M NaOH) and competition studies (with binary and cocktail mixture of co-anions) supported the potential field application of the proposed adsorbent.

Oxidized and Non-Oxidized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes as Materials for Adsorption of Lanthanum(III) Aqueous Solutions

The behavior of oxidized and non-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the adsorption of lanthanum(III) from aqueous solutions is described. Metal uptake is studied as a function of several variables such as the stirring speed of the system, pH of the aqueous solution and metal and nanomaterial concentrations. The experimental results are fitted to various kinetic and isotherm models, the rate law being fitted to the film diffusion and particle diffusion models, when the non-oxidized and the oxidized nanomaterials are used to remove lanthanum from the solution, respectively. Sulfuric acid solutions seem to be appropriate to recover the metal from La-loaded nanomaterials.