Abstract
Humic acids (HA) exhibit fascinating multifunctional features, yet degradation phenomena as well as poor stability in aqueous environments strongly limit their use. Inorganic nanoparticles are emerging as a powerful interface for the development of robust HA bio-hybrid materials with enhanced chemical stability and tunable properties. Hybrid organic-inorganic SiO2/HA nanostructures were synthesized via an in-situ sol-gel route, exploiting both physical entrapment and chemical coupling. The latter was achieved through amide bond formation between carboxyl groups of HA and the amino group of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), as confirmed by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Monodisperse hybrid nanoparticles about 90 nm in diameter were obtained in both cases, yet Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy highlighted the different supramolecular organization of HA. The altered HA conformation was reflected in different antioxidant properties of the conjugated nanoparticles that, however, resulted in being higher than for pure HA. Our findings proved the key role of both components in defining the morphology of the final system, as well as the efficacy of the ceramic component in templating the HA supramolecular organization and consequently tuning their functional features, thus defining a green strategy for bio-waste valorization.
Highlights
Bio-waste management and valorization is one of the most challenging issues for sustainable development, due to the enormous amount of bio-residues resulting from biogenic and non-biogenic transformations [1,2]
Our results proved the key role of both components in defining the morphology of the final hybrid system, as well as the efficacy of the ceramic component in templating the supramolecular organization of humic acids (HA), driving functional properties and setting a green strategy for bio-waste valorization
Hybrid HA/Silica nanoparticles were obtained by a sol-gel methodology which relies on Hybrid HA/Silica were by route)
Summary
Bio-waste management and valorization is one of the most challenging issues for sustainable development, due to the enormous amount of bio-residues resulting from biogenic and non-biogenic transformations [1,2]. The chemical heterogeneity and the metastable conformation of humic matter, as well as their different reactive functional groups, are responsible for a wide range of useful properties, including the adsorbing capacity towards metals and organic pollutants [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. They exhibit a strong attitude toward Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
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