Synthesis and characterization of Alg/Gel/n-HAP/MNPs porous nanocomposite adsorbent for efficient water conservancy and removal of methylene blue in aqueous environments: Kinetic modeling and artificial neural network predictions

In this study, a new porous nanocomposite adsorbent for water conservancy was synthesized using the freeze-drying technique to adsorb a cationic dye (Methylene Blue) in an aqueous environment. The nanocomposite adsorbent was synthesized using natural polymers, gelatin, and sodium alginate, and hydroxyapatite and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was incorporated into the polymer network to improve mechanical properties and increase the surface-to-volume ratio. To confirm the structure and morphology of the sample, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques were employed. In addition, the magnetic properties of the synthesis of MNPs and porous nanocomposite were determined using value stream mapping (VSM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The adsorption of Methylene Blue (MB) was studied as a function of effective physical and variable parameters, such as time, temperature, pH, and initial concentration. The synthesized porous nanocomposite adsorbent exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 473.2 mg g-1 and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Additionally, the maximum adsorption capacity was observed at an initial concentration of 534.9 mg g-1. The adsorbent was also sensitive to temperature changes and was well-described thermodynamically and isothermally by the Freundlich isotherm model. Two artificial neural networks (ANNs) were also developed to investigate the properties of the synthesized nanocomposites. In the first ANN, the properties of the nanocomposites, including pore size, porosity, compressive strength, and elastic modulus, were predicted based on the variations in the weight percentages of gelatin and hydroxyapatite. In the second ANN, the effects of changes in temperature and initial concentration on the adsorption of MB by the synthesized nanocomposite samples were predicted. The ANNs' predictions indicated that increasing the weight percentage of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and gelatin enhances the physical, mechanical, and adsorption performance of the synthesized porous nanocomposites. The best results were achieved for the sample containing 40 wt % of gelatin and 30 wt % of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. Furthermore, the ANN models demonstrated that increasing the temperature and initial concentration resulted in an increase in the amount of MB adsorbed.

Synthesis of GG-g-P(NIPAM-co-AA)/GO and evaluation of adsorption activity for the diclofenac and metformin

The grafting of biopolymer gum ghatti (GG) over the PNIPAM and PAA was done and loaded with graphene oxide (GO). Aim of this work is carried out combine adsorption of sodium diclofenac (SD) and metformin (MF) by the prepared hydrogels under influence of various parameters. The adsorbent GG-g-P(NIPAM-co-PAA)/GO(3 mg) chosen for adsorption activity as it displayed highest swelling capacity. The effect of amount of both adsorbents GG-g-P(NIPAM-co-PAA and GG-g-P(NIPAM-co-PAA)/GO(3 mg) showed that highest adsorption capacity found at 40 mg of adsorbents for both drugs at conditions: 100 mg/L concentration, 30 °C, 24 h and pH 6 and subsequently became stable. Both the drugs were removed in greater amount at 25 mg/L concentration, 24 h of contact time, 30 °C, 40 mg amount of both adsorbents and pH 6. Effect of time revealed that as time elevated from 2 h to 12 (100 mg/L concentration,, 30 °C, 40 mg amount of both adsorbents and pH 6) led to increase adsorption efficiency and after that increase time did not much impact on adsorption activity. Adsorption activity of hydrogels declined with increase of temperature (100 mg/L concentration, 12 h, 40 mg amount of both adsorbents and pH 6). The acidic conditions favored adsorption of SD while MF adsorbed under the weak acidic(100 mg/L concentration, 30 °C, 12 h, 40 mg amount of both adsorbents). However, basic conditions did not much influence on adsorption of MF but effected on adsorption activity of SD. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic model suggested that adsorption is homogenous and chemical in nature. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) found to be 289.01 and 154.55 mg/g for SD and MF respectively.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-023-00867-w.

Acrylamide toxicity in aquatic animals and its mitigation approaches: an updated overview

Acrylamide (ACR) is widely applied in various industrial activities, as well as in the water purification process. Furthermore, ACR is synthesized naturally in some starchy grains exposed to high temperatures for an extended time during the cooking process. Because of its widespread industrial usage, ACR might be released into water stream sources. Also, ACR poses a high risk of contaminated surface and ground-water resources due to its high solubility and mobility in water. Furthermore, animal studies have indicated that ACR exposure may cause cancer (in many organs such as lung, prostate, uterus, and pancreas), genetic damage (in both somatic and germ cells), and severe effects on reproduction and development. Recently, numerous studies have shown that ACR has a mild acute cytotoxic impact on aquatic species, particularly during early life stages. Besides, wide-spectrum usage of ACR in many industrial activities presented higher environmental risks as well as major hazards to consumer health. This literature was designed to include all potential and accessible reports on ACR toxicity related with aquatic species. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews were applied to evaluate the risk effects of ACR on aquatic organisms, the ACR sub-lethal concentration in the ecosystem, and the possible protective benefits of various feed additives against ACR toxicity in fish. The major findings are summarized in Tables 2 and 3. The primary aim of this literature was to specify the hazards of ACR toxicity related with fish welfare and possible suggested strategies to reduce its risks.

Advances in gum-based hydrogels and their environmental applications

Gum-based hydrogels (GBHs) have been widely employed in diverse water purification processes due to their environmental properties, and high absorption capacity. More desired properties of GBHs such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, material cost, simplicity of manufacture, and wide range of uses have converted them into promising materials in water treatment processes. In this review, we explored the application of GBHs to remove pollutants from contaminated waters. Water resources are constantly being contaminated by a variety of harmful effluents such as heavy metals, dyes, and other dangerous substances. A practical way to remove chemical waste from water as a vital component is surface adsorption. Currently, hydrogels, three-dimensional polymeric networks, are quite popular for adsorption. They have more extensive uses in several industries, including biomedicine, water purification, agriculture, sanitary products, and biosensors. This review will help the researcher to understand the research gaps and drawbacks in this field, which will lead to further developments in the future.

Development of cellulose/hydroxyapatite/TiO2 scaffolds for efficient removal of lead (II) ions pollution: Characterization, kinetic analysis, and artificial neural network modeling

The utilization of nano-biodegradable composites for removing pollutants and heavy metals in aquatic environments has been widespread. This study focuses on synthesizing cellulose/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites with titanium dioxide (TiO2) via the freeze-drying method for the adsorption of lead ions in aquatic environments. The physical and chemical properties of the nanocomposites, including structure, morphology, and mechanical properties, were analyzed through FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS. In addition, parameters affecting the adsorption capacity, such as time, temperature, pH, and initial concentration, were determined. The nanocomposite exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 1012 mg⸱g-1, and the second-order kinetic model was found to govern the adsorption process. Additionally, an artificial neural network (ANN) was created using weight percentages (wt%) of nanoparticles included in the scaffold to predict the mechanical behavior, porosity, and desorption of the scaffolds at various weight percentages of hydroxyapatite (nHAP) and TiO2. The results of the ANN indicated that the incorporation of both single and hybrid nanoparticles into the scaffolds improved their mechanical behavior and desorption, as well as increased their porosity.

Physicochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Ficus vasta Gum as a Binder in Tablet Formulation

Binders are ingredients used in tablet granulation process for tablet cohesiveness which confirms that the tablet remains intact after compression. Natural gums have been employed as disintegrants, emulsifying agents, suspending agents, and binders in tablets. Even though Ficus vasta gum is claimed as a possible pharmaceutical excipient by some phytochemical studies, literature is scanty on its efficacy as a tablet binder. The purpose of this study was to isolate, characterize, and comparatively evaluate Ficus vasta gum as a potential binder in tablet formulation. Gum was extracted from Ficus vasta tree, characterized for physicochemical properties, and applied as a binder in paracetamol granule and tablet formulation. Granules were prepared using 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% w/w concentration of the gum and standard binders (polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 and Starch@1500) by wet granulation. The formulated tablets were then evaluated for tablet quality parameters, and comparison between the test and standard binders was done by ANOVA. The dried crude gum yielded 50.63% (w/w) of a brownish yellow purified gum. The angle of repose, Carr's index, and the Hausner ratio all complied with the pharmacopoeial recommendations. The gum is compatible with the model drug, paracetamol. The paracetamol granules prepared with Ficus gum binder demonstrated an optimum size range and size distribution with substantial flow and compressibility properties. Ficus gum binder demonstrated significantly higher disintegration time and strength properties than that of similar concentrations of Starch@1500 but lower than polyvinylpyrrolidone (p < 0.05). Ficus gum has better binding properties than starch but lower than polyvinylpyrrolidone. Hence, Ficus vasta gum can be used as an alternative tablet binder in tablet manufacturing.

Functional Materials Made by Combining Hydrogels (Cross-Linked Polyacrylamides) and Conducting Polymers (Polyanilines)-A Critical Review

Hydrogels made of cross-linked polyacrlyamides (cPAM) and conducting materials made of polyanilines (PANIs) are both the most widely used materials in each category. This is due to their accessible monomers, easy synthesis and excellent properties. Therefore, the combination of these materials produces composites which show enhanced properties and also synergy between the cPAM properties (e.g., elasticity) and those of PANIs (e.g., conductivity). The most common way to produce the composites is to form the gel by radical polymerization (usually by redox initiators) then incorporate the PANIs into the network by oxidative polymerization of anilines. It is often claimed that the product is a semi-interpenetrated network (s-IPN) made of linear PANIs penetrating the cPAM network. However, there is evidence that the nanopores of the hydrogel become filled with PANIs nanoparticles, producing a composite. On the other hand, swelling the cPAM in true solutions of PANIs macromolecules renders s-IPN with different properties. Technological applications of the composites have been developed, such as photothermal (PTA)/electromechanical actuators, supercapacitors, movement/pressure sensors, etc. PTA devices rely on the absorption of electromagnetic radiation (light, microwaves, radiofrequency) by PANIs, which heats up the composite, triggering the phase transition of a thermosensitive cPAM. Therefore, the synergy of properties of both polymers is beneficial.

Replacement of polyethylene oxide by peach gum to produce an active film using Litsea cubeba essential oil and its application in beef

This study evaluated the effects of adding various concentrations (0 %, 1 %, 2 %, and 3 %) of peach gum (PG) to films made from polyethylene oxide (PEO) combined with Litsea cubeba essential oil (LCEO) to be utilized as active packaging for food in the future. The findings showed that the film containing PG 2 % concentration had the best physic-mechanical properties. In films made with PG, the glass transition temperature was significantly improved. Combining PG and PEO resulted in films that were brighter in color, had lower WVP values, and had the lowest water activity. Furthermore, XRD demonstrated that PG additions were compatible with the film of PEO blended with LCEO. The PG films formulated with PG presented high antioxidant and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Wrapping beef with P2G2 film led to maintaining its quality with suitable levels of pH, TBARS, and TVB-N. This also decreased the number of E. coli and S. aureus in beef throughout the storage period. The results indicate that adding PG to PEO films enhances their suitability for food preservation.

Interpenetrating polymer networks for desalination and water remediation: a comprehensive review of research trends and prospects

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) architectures have gained a lot of interest in recent decades, mainly due to their wide range of applications including water treatment and environmental remediation. IPNs are composed of two or more crosslinked polymeric matrices that are physically entangled but not chemically connected. In polymer science, the interpenetrating network structure with its high polymer chain entanglement is commonly used to generate materials with many functional properties, such as mechanical robustness and adaptable structure. In order to remove a targeted pollutant from contaminated water, it is feasible to modify the network architectures to increase the selectivity by choosing the monomer appropriately. This review aims to give a critical overview of the recent design concepts of IPNs and their applications in desalination and water treatment and their future prospects. This article also discusses the inclusion of inorganic nanoparticles into traditional polymeric membrane networks and its advantages. In the first part, the current scenario for desalination, water pollution and conventional desalination technologies along with their challenges is discussed. Subsequently, the main strategies for the synthesis of semi-IPNs and full-IPNs, and their relevant properties in water remediation are presented based on the nature of the networks and mechanism, with an emphasis on the IPN membrane. This review article has thoroughly investigated and critically assessed published works that describe the latest study on developing IPN membranes, hydrogels and composite materials in water purification and desalination. The goal of this critical analysis is to elicit fresh perspectives regarding the application and advantages of IPNs in desalination and water treatment. This article will also provide a glimpse into future areas of research to address the challenges relating to advanced water treatment as well as its emerging sustainable approaches. The study has put forward a convincing justification and establishes the relevance of IPNs being one of the most intriguing and important areas for achieving a sustainable generation of advanced materials that could benefit mankind.

DOE-based synthesis of gellan gum-acrylic acid-based biodegradable hydrogels: screening of significant process variables and in situ field studies

The current study uses the free radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid as a monomer, N,N-methylene-bis-(acrylamide) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator to synthesise GG-cl-poly(AA) hydrogels based on gellan gum utilising response surface methodology (RSM). A full factorial design was used to obtain the greatest percent swelling (P_s), and key process variables were determined using the Pareto chart. To make the procedure cost-effective, a multiple regression model employing ANOVA projected a linear model with a maximum percentage swelling of 556 at the lowest concentration of all three studied factors. As a result, the sequential experimental design was successful in obtaining two-fold increases in the percentage swelling in a systematic way. An RSM-based central composite design was used to optimize the percentage swelling of the three most important synthesis parameters: initiator concentration, monomer concentration, and crosslinker concentration. The best process conditions are 7.3 mM L⁻¹ initiator, 44 μM L⁻¹ monomer, and 21.6 mM L⁻¹ crosslinker. The effective synthesis of GG-cl-poly(AA) was validated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. The swelling behavior of GG-cl-poly(AA) in water and saline solutions, as well as its water retention capability, was investigated. In comparison to distilled water, the swelling potential of optimized hydrogel was shown to be significantly reduced in saline solutions. The addition of GG-cl-poly(AA) significantly improved the moisture properties of plant growth media (clay, sandy, and clay–soil combination), implying that it has great potential in moisture stress agriculture. GG-cl-poly(AA) biodegradation was studied by soil burial and vermicomposting methods. The composting approach showed 89.95% deterioration after 22 days, while the soil burial method showed 86.71% degradation after 22 days. The synthesized hydrogel may be beneficial for agricultural applications because of its considerable degradation behaviour, strong water retention capacity, low cost, and environmental friendliness.

We use free radical graft copolymerization of acrylic acid as a monomer, N,N-methylene-bis-(acrylamide) as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator to synthesise GG-cl-poly(AA) hydrogels based on gellan gum utilising response surface methodology.

Spotlight on the Life Cycle of Acrylamide-Based Polymers Supporting Reductions in Environmental Footprint: Review and Recent Advances

Humankind is facing a climate and energy crisis which demands global and prompt actions to minimize the negative impacts on the environment and on the lives of millions of people. Among all the disciplines which have an important role to play, chemistry has a chance to rethink the way molecules are made and find innovations to decrease the overall anthropic footprint on the environment. In this paper, we will provide a review of the existing knowledge but also recent advances on the manufacturing and end uses of acrylamide-based polymers following the "green chemistry" concept and 100 years after the revolutionary publication of Staudinger on macromolecules. After a review of raw material sourcing options (fossil derivatives vs. biobased), we will discuss the improvements in monomer manufacturing followed by a second part dealing with polymer manufacturing processes and the paths followed to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In the following section, we will see how the polyacrylamides help reduce the environmental footprint of end users in various fields such as agriculture or wastewater treatment and discuss in more detail the fate of these molecules in the environment by looking at the existing literature, the regulations in place and the procedures used to assess the overall biodegradability. In the last section, we will review macromolecular engineering principles which could help enhance the degradability of said polymers when they reach the end of their life cycle.

Evaluation of gum ghatti-g-poly(itaconic acid) magnetite nanocomposite as an adsorbent material for water purification

A porous hydrogel nanocomposite has been made by grafting poly(itaconic acid) on the polysaccharide, gum ghatti and by embedding magnetite nanoparticles in the copolymer gel matrix. This novel functional material Ggh-g-PIA/Fe₃O₄ was characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, EDS, XRD, BET, Zeta potential measurements and VSM techniques. The nanocomposite possesses mesoporous structure with high surface area and exhibits super-paramagnetic behavior due to the presence of magnetite nanoparticles. The hydrogel nanocomposite was evaluated as an adsorbent material for removal of dyes and divalent metal ions. Significant adsorption capacities of 410.2, 387.6, 416.5 and 401.4 mg g^-1 towards methylene blue, rhodamine 6G, Cu (II) and Hg (II) ions respectively were observed. The adsorption isotherms were well described by the Freundlich isotherm model and kinetic studies demonstrated the adsorption to be a pseudo second order kinetic process. Intraparticle diffusion model suggested adsorption to occur by a multi-step diffusion process. Thermodynamic studies indicated a spontaneous and endothermic adsorption. Further, the desorption study indicated the possibility of successful regeneration of the adsorbent. A high removal efficiency, recyclability, convenient recovery after use due to the magnetic nature makes this polysaccharide based nanocomposite an environment friendly adsorbent material for water purification.

Conducting polymer hydrogels as a sustainable platform for advanced energy, biomedical and environmental applications

Environmentally friendly polymeric materials and derivative technologies play increasingly important roles in the sustainable development of our modern society. Conducting polymer hydrogels (CPHs) synergizing the advantageous characteristics of conventional hydrogels and conducting polymers are promising to satisfy the requirements of environmental sustainability. Beyond their use in energy and biomedical applications that require exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, CPHs are emerging as promising contaminant adsorbents owing to their porous network structure and regulable functional groups. Here, we review the currently available strategies for synthesizing CPHs, focusing primarily on multifunctional applications in energy storage/conversion, biomedical engineering and environmental remediation, and discuss future perspectives and challenges for CPHs in terms of their synthesis and applications. It is envisioned to stimulate new thinking and innovation in the development of next-generation sustainable materials.

Removal of Congo red from aqueous solution by adsorption using gum ghatti and acrylamide graft copolymer coated with zero valent iron

Gum ghatti (Gg) and acrylamide (AAm) grafted copolymer [poly (Gg-AAm)] coated by zero valent iron (ZVI) was developed to remove toxic Congo red (CR) from waste water. Prepared composite, [poly (Gg-AAm)/ZVI] was characterized by FESEM, TEM, BET, FTIR and XRD. CR adsorption from water using [poly (Gg-AAm)/ZVI] was investigated and several parameters discussed, such as solution pH, contact time, dosage and temperature to find out removal efficiency of polymer composite. The kinetic data for the adsorption of CR followed the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity for CR at pH 7.0 were found to be 153.8, 200 and 250 mg/g at 25, 35 and 45 °C correspondingly. Desorption studies revealed that prepared composite can be used up to three cycles efficiently and thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰) and entropy (ΔS⁰) changes showed the adsorption of CR onto [poly (Gg-AAm)/ZVI] was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic.

Neem gum based pH responsive hydrogel matrix: A new pharmaceutical excipient for the sustained release of anticancer drug

The present research work was aimed to synthesize neem gum-based site-specific drug delivery device for anticancer drug methotrexate at different pH condition. The hydrogel-based drug delivery device was synthesized by optimizing reaction parameters using a factorial design approach response surface method. This model comprised of various sets of reactions with varying concentrations of solvent, crosslinker, initiator and monomer under microwave radiation. Characterization of the candidate hydrogel was done using UV-visible spectrophotometer, FTIR, SEM, Raman, and XRD techniques. The release profile of the hydrogels network was studied through a methotrexate under different pH conditions. The drug encapsulation capacity was found to be around 93% and 90% in pH 7.4 and 6.8. Drug release through the synthesized hydrogel matrix was found to show non-Fickian behaviour at each medium. The hydrogel network showed less release in pH 6.8 than pH 7.4, suggesting that hydrogels may be suitable drug carriers for release of anticancer drug delivery system. Hemolysis testing was also done to check the compatibility of the synthesized drug delivery device with the four different blood samples. Hemolysis was found to be less than 1% in the case of all blood groups, which indicates that the synthesized candidate polymers are biocompatible with all blood groups.

Tree gum-based renewable materials: Sustainable applications in nanotechnology, biomedical and environmental fields

The prospective uses of tree gum polysaccharides and their nanostructures in various aspects of food, water, energy, biotechnology, environment and medicine industries, have garnered a great deal of attention recently. In addition to extensive applications of tree gums in food, there are substantial non-food applications of these commercial gums, which have gained widespread attention due to their availability, structural diversity and remarkable properties as 'green' bio-based renewable materials. Tree gums are obtainable as natural polysaccharides from various tree genera possessing exceptional properties, including their renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic nature and their ability to undergo easy chemical modifications. This review focuses on non-food applications of several important commercially available gums (arabic, karaya, tragacanth, ghatti and kondagogu) for the greener synthesis and stabilization of metal/metal oxide NPs, production of electrospun fibers, environmental bioremediation, bio-catalysis, biosensors, coordination complexes of metal-hydrogels, and for antimicrobial and biomedical applications. Furthermore, polysaccharides acquired from botanical, seaweed, animal, and microbial origins are briefly compared with the characteristics of tree gum exudates.

An Overview of Nanotechnology in Food Science: Preparative Methods, Practical Applications, and Safety

As the researches to utilize nanotechnology in food science are advanced, applications of nanotechnology in various fields of the food industry have increased. Nanotechnology can be applied to the food industry for production, processing, storage, and quality control of foods. Nanomaterials, unlike conventional microscale materials, having novel characteristics can improve sensory quality of foods by imparting novel texture, color, and appearance. Nanotechnology has been used to design nanosensors for detection of harmful components in foods and a smart packaging system enabling to recognize food contamination very rapidly and sensitively. Nanoencapsulation is the most significant technology in food science, especially for bioactive compounds and flavors. Targeted delivery systems designed with nanoencapsulation can enhance bioavailability of bioactive compounds after oral administration. In addition, nanoencapsulation enables to control the release of flavors at the desired time and to protect the degradation of flavors during processing and storage. In this review, current applications of nanotechnology in food science including flavor control, enhancement of bioavailability of bioactive compounds, and detection of deleterious substances in foods are presented. Furthermore, this article overviews classification, preparative methods, and safety issues of nanomaterials for food science. This review will be of help to provide comprehensive information for newcomers utilizing nanotechnology to the food sector.

Synthesis, characterization, and anti-microbial activity of superabsorbents based on agar–poly(methacrylic acid-glycine)

In this study, poly(methacrylic acid-glycine)-grafted agar-based hydrogels with optimized process parameters were synthesized via a two-step green-radiation induced grafting process using microwave heating. Poly(methacrylic acid) chains were graft copolymerized onto an agar backbone using ammonium persulfate as a free radical initiator and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linking means using microwave heating. The influence of different reaction parameters was investigated on the percentage swelling behavior of the cross-linked hydrogel networks. The prepared hydrogel networks with optimum percentage swelling were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, using agar as a reference. The anti-bacterial activities of the prepared hydrogels against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria were investigated. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more susceptible to the compounds compared to Escherichia coli. These results indicate that the prepared hydrogels have the potential to be applied as anti-bacterial agents.

Microwave assisted synthesis, characterization and thermoacoustical study of a β-naphthol-guanidine-formaldehyde copolymer resin

The thermo acoustic parameter evaluation of a β-naphthol-guanidine-formaldehyde copolymer resin for studying hydrogen bonding interactions between the polymer and ethanol as solvent.

Eco-friendly nano-hybrid superabsorbent composite from hydroxyethyl cellulose and diatomite

A high performance nano-hybrid superabsorbent composite was prepared through the graft polymerization of acrylic acid into hydroxyethyl cellulose backbone chains in the presence of diatomite clay as an inorganic nano-filler.

Biodegradation study of enzymatically catalyzed interpenetrating polymer network: Evaluation of agrochemical release and impact on soil fertility

A novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) has been synthesized through enzymatic initiation using lipase as initiator, glutaraldehyde as cross-linker, acrylic acid as primary monomer and acrylamide as secondary monomer. Biodegradability of synthesized interpenetrating polymer network was studied through soil burial and composting methods. Synthesized hydrogel was completely degraded within 70 days using composting method, while it was 86.03% degraded within 77 days using soil burial method. This was confirmed by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Synthesized interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel was used as a device for controlled release of urea and also act as water releasing device. Their impact on soil fertility and plant growth was also studied. The initial diffusion coefficient has a greater value than the later diffusion coefficient indicating a higher fertilizer release rate during the early stage. Fertilizer release kinetic was also studied which showed Non-Fickian diffusion behavior, as the rate of fertilizer release was comparable to the relaxation time of the synthesized matrix. Synthesized IPN enhance the water uptake capacity up to 6.2% and 7.2% in sandy loam and clay soil, respectively.

Synthesis of a Gum rosin alcohol-poly(acrylamide) based adsorbent and its application in removal of malachite green dye from waste water

The present paper is focused on the synthesis of a green GrA-cl-poly(AAm) adsorbent using N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide and potassium persulphate as a crosslinker–initiator system.

Evaluation of a conducting interpenetrating network based on gum ghatti-g-poly(acrylic acid-aniline) as a colon-specific delivery system for amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol

Development of colon-specific drug delivery systems for amoxicillin trihydrate and paracetamol using gum ghatti based crosslinked hydrogels.