Aerogels based on cationically modified chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) for efficient capturing of viruses

In this study, we developed a new filtering bioaerogel based on linear polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the cationic derivative of chitosan (N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylamine) propyl] chitosan chloride, HTCC) with a potential antiviral application. A strong intermolecular network architecture was formed thanks to the introduction of linear PVA chains, which can efficiently interpenetrate the glutaraldehyde(GA)-crosslinked HTCC chains. The morphology of the obtained structures was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The aerogels and modified polymers' elemental composition (including the chemical environment) was determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). New aerogels with more than twice as much developed micro- and mesopore space and BET-specific surface area were obtained concerning the starting sample chitosan aerogel crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (Chit/GA). The results obtained from the XPS analysis showed the presence of cationic 3-trimethylammonium groups on the surface of the aerogel, which can interact with viral capsid proteins. No cytotoxic effect of HTCC/GA/PVA aerogel was also observed on fibroblast cells of the NIH3T3 line. Furthermore, the HTCC/GA/PVA aerogel has been shown that efficiently traps mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) from suspension. The presented concept of aerogel filters for virus capture based on modified chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol has a high application potential.

Adsorption of Orange G in Liquid Solution by the Amino Functionalized GO

Dye effluent damaged the water environment and human health with its massive discharge. In order to eliminate dye from the water environment, a variety of adsorbents were used to investigate dye removal. Graphene oxide (GO) attracted extensive attention due to its excellent surface property in the degradation of dye wastewater. Modified GO with multifunctional groups helped to improve adsorption performance. 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified GO (AS-GO) was fabricated for the removal of Orange G (OG) in this study. The results showed that AS-GO had an excellent adsorption ability of OG. During the reaction process, the maximum adsorptive capacity of OG was up to 576.6 mg/g at T = 313 K and pH = 3 with the initial OG concentration of 100 mg/L and the initial adsorbent dose of 2.5 g/L. The adsorption kinetic process of AS-GO conformed to the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. The spontaneous and endothermic adsorption of OG occurred in the adsorption process. The main adsorption mechanisms were electrostatic, π–π and hydrogen bonding interactions in the reaction process. After four cycles of AS-GO, it maintained high removal efficiency owing to its remarkable stability. The scheme of GO modified with AS could hinder the agglomeration of GO and provide more active sites, which would further enhance the adsorption properties and expand its application in water purification.

A decade development in the application of chitosan-based materials for dye adsorption: A short review

The presence of dyes in the aquatic environment as a result of anthropogenic activities, especially textile industries, is a critical environmental challenge that hinders the availability of potable water. Different wastewater treatment approaches have been used to remediate dyes in aquatic environments; however, most of these approaches are limited by factors ranging from high cost to the incomplete removal of the dyes and contaminants. Thus, the use of adsorption as a water treatment technology to remove dyes and other contaminants has been widely investigated using different adsorbents. This study evaluated the significance of chitosan as a viable adsorbent for removing dyes from water treatment. We summarised the literature and research results obtained between 2009 and 2020 regarding the adsorption of dyes onto chitosan and modified chitosan-based adsorbents prepared through physical and chemical processing, including crosslinking impregnation, grafting, and membrane preparation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effects of various chitosan-based materials and modifications; they all improve the properties of chitosan by promoting the adsorption of dyes. Hence, the application of chitosan-based materials with various modifications should be considered a cutting-edge approach for the remediation of dyes and other contaminants in aquatic environments toward the global aim of making potable water globally available.

Nickel-Aluminum Oxide Aerogels: Super-adsorbents for Azo Dyes for Water Remediation

Highly porous nickel-aluminum oxide aerogels were prepared according to a one-pot sol-gel process and dried under supercritical carbon dioxide conditions. Although the surface properties of these materials were very appealing for applications in catalysis, these aerogels were never applied in adsorption. The nickel effect on the structure and surface properties of the aerogels has been investigated via a broad range of structural, textural, and morphology characterization of the aerogels before and after heat treatment. The adsorption capacity of the as-synthesized and calcined aerogels for azo dyes was assessed under various experimental conditions. The presence of nickel in the aerogel boosts tremendously the surface reactivity and improves noticeably the adsorption capacity of the material. The adsorption capacities for the nickel-aluminum oxide aerogel with 40% nickel (q max) are 900 mg g-1 for methyl orange, 1484 mg g-1 for orange II, and 1660 mg g-1 for Congo Red. The adsorption process is exothermic and follows pseudo-second-order kinetics.

A review on agro-industrial waste (AIW) derived adsorbents for water and wastewater treatment

There is a large amount of studies surrounding the usage of agro-industrial waste (AIW) for the adsorptions of organic pollutants (dyes) and inorganic pollutants (heavy metals) in water/wastewater. This method is normally treated as an alternative approach to the conventional water/wastewater treatment. However, there are some increasing interests for investigators to identify novel adsorption materials for pollutants removal. It is particularly noteworthy that most AIW wastes are not currently used at the original state, but modified in a variety of ways to reinforce the porosity and adsorption surface area of the material. Nanostructuring, activation, carbonization, and grafting are some common modification technologies of agricultural waste adsorbents. Besides, the characteristic, preparation and application of adsorbents from various industrial wastes, including natural materials and biosorbents, were summarized. Additionally, the challenges and perspectives for future researches of waste-derived adsorbents were studied. This review provides an important insight on using AIWs as precursor materials for preparing adsorbents in water/wastewater treatment.