Grafted Poly Acrylic Acid Research Articles

Gellan Gum grafted poly acrylic acid hydrogels: Synthesis and adsorption studies

Gellan Gum (GG) grafted poly-acrylic acid (GG-g-pAAc) hydrogels of different composition were synthesized by changing the concentration of GG through free radical polymerization. The hydrogels were characterized through SEM, TGA, and FTIR. The FTIR spectra confirmed the grafting of GG into the network of polyacrylic acid and evidenced the GG-g-pAAc formation. The rough surface nature of the hydrogels was elaborated through SEM analysis provided the information about the materials to be utilized for removal purpose. The thermal stability was confirmed by TGA analysis and the hydrogels were found stable upto a high temperature range. With an efficiency of 96%, Basic Orange-2 dye (BO-2) was successfully removed from wastewater using synthesized hydrogels as an adsorbent. The adsorption parameters were calculated using a number of different kinetic models. According to the findings, the pseudo-second order kinetics model best suited to the kinetics data, while the Langmuir isotherm provided the most comprehensive explanation of the process of adsorption. BO-2 was removed to the greatest extent (257.5 mg/g). Additionally, the results showed that the adsorption process on synthesized hydrogels was exothermic with values of ΔH = −13.2, −219.4 and −12.9 kJ/mol for pAAc, 10%GG-g-pAAc, and 20%GG-g-pAAc respectively. The adsorption process is spontaneous, with negative values of ΔG = −8.2, −214.4 and −7.947 kJ/mol for pAAc, 10%GG-g-pAAc and 20%GG-g-pAAc at 293K, respectively. The adsorption process on synthesized hydrogels showed no dis-orderness with negative values of ΔS = −17.2, −461.16 and −16.42 kJ/mol for pAAc, 10%GG-g-pAAc and 20%GG-g-pAAc, respectively.

Highly nanostructured and carboxylated wood aerogel-based adsorption membrane reconstructed by grafting of polyacrylic acid for efficient removal of heavy-metal ions

A highly nanostructured and carboxylated WA-PAA1.5 membrane was developed to remove heavy-metal ions from wastewater depended on wood nanotechnology and reconstruction of nanostructure by the grafting of polyacrylic acid (PAA). The combination of delignification and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated −oxidation treatment transformed the bulk wood into wood aerogel with a microfibril network in the cell wall, providing abundant active hydroxyl sites. As a result, the PAA polymer was efficiently grafted onto cell wall and filled in the vessel and intercellular space, which reconstructed a highly nanostructured WA-PAA1.5 membrane with rich carboxyl groups (6.5 mmol/g). Correspondingly, the WA-PAA1.5 membrane manifested a superior adsorption capacity for Cu2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+, which was around 248 mg/g, 268 mg/g, 255 mg/g and 276 mg/g, respectively. These values were significantly higher than most biomass-based adsorption materials due to the synergistic effect of the enhanced carboxyl groups and the reconstructed mesoporous structure. The adsorption mechanism investigation proved the chemical linkage between the carboxyl groups and Cu2+ in wastewater. Meanwhile, the WA-PAA1.5 membrane also displayed excellent recycle performance, in which the removal efficiency of Cu2+ still remained above 85 % after undergoing eight cycles. Furthermore, the multi-layer WA-PAA1.5 filtration device demonstrated exceptional removal efficiency for a variety of heavy-metal ions, indicating the availability in practical wastewater treatment. The prepared WA-PAA1.5 membrane in this study has promising potential to replace the present plastic-based materials for the removal of heavy-metal ions in wastewater because of the facile technology, high removal efficient and sustainability, as well as biodegradability.

Stable anode/separator interface enabled by graft modification of polypropylene separator via electron beam irradiation technique toward high-performance sodium metal batteries

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are considered as strong alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the inherent merits of sodium metal anodes (SMAs) including low redox potential (−2.71 V vs. SHE), high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g−1), and abundant resources. However, the uncontrollable Na dendrite growth has significantly impeded the practical deployment of SMBs. Separator modification has emerged as an effective strategy for substantially enhancing the performance of SMAs. Herein, for the first time, we present the successful grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) onto polypropylene (PP) separators (denoted as PP-g-PAA) using highly efficient electron beam (EB) irradiation to improve the cyclability of SMAs. The polar carboxyl groups of PAA can facilitate the electrolyte wetting and provide ample mechanical strength to resist dendrite penetration. Consequently, the regulation of Na+ ion flux enables uniform Na+ deposition with dendrite-free morphology, facilitated by the favorable anode/separator interface. The PP-g-PAA separator significantly enhances the cyclability of fabricated cells. Notably, the lifespan of Na||Na symmetric cells can be extended up to 5519 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. The stable design of the anode/separator interface achieved through polyolefin separator modification presented in this study holds promise for the further advancement of next-generation advanced battery systems.

Abnormal swelling in water of carboxylic ion exchanger in the forms of ammonium and tetraethylammonium ions

A fibrous carboxylic ion exchanger, obtained by post-radiation grafting of polyacrylic acid to polypropylene fiber, in the ammonium form has an abnormally low swelling in water, corresponding to 10 moles of water per equivalent, and in the form of tetraethylammonium ion (NEt4+) – abnormally high 25 moles of water/eq. Considering that NH4+ is a hydrophilic particle and NEt4+ is hydrophobic, this fact seems paradoxical. The article attempts to explain this phenomenon using molecular modeling (ab initio calculations of the structure of hydrate complexes in the HF MO LCAO approximation with the 6-31G basis set) in combination with the Predominant Hydrates Model, which made it possible to calculate the theoretical water sorption isotherms of the ion exchanger and compare them with experimental data. The abnormally low swelling of the ion exchanger in the NH4+-form is caused by the formation of a strong bond between the carboxylate anion and ammonium with a significant degree of covalence due to the superposition of the Coulomb interaction of the ions and the formation of a hydrogen bond between them. The abnormally high swelling of NEt4+-forms is caused by the absence of a strong interaction between cations and carboxylate groups due to the impossibility of their convergence due to steric reasons. The high swelling of the ion exchanger is caused by the absence of blocking of the hydrophilic carboxylate groups of the ion exchanger by hydrogen bonds with the cation. The ion exchanger matrix does not contain a cross agent and does not create a spatial restriction for the high swelling of the ion exchanger.

Removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solution using polyacrylic acid modified hemp stem.

Water pollution caused by dyes is a pressing environmental challenge due to their persistence and difficulty in degradation. Herein, an anionic adsorbent (HS-PAANa) was synthesized by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) onto the agricultural waste-hemp stem (HS). The obtained HS-PAANa adsorbent exhibited rapid adsorption kinetics, high adsorption capacity, and a favorable preference for cationic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV). The experimental data fit well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm, demonstrating the efficiency of HS-PAANa in dye removal. Notably, the optimal adsorption capacities of HS-PAANa for MB and CV were found to be 1296.65 mg/g and 1451.43 mg/g, respectively. In the cationic/anionic dyes (MB/MO) binary systems, HS-PAANa exhibited enhanced selective adsorption of cationic dyes (MB), indicating its potential for targeted removal of specific dyes from mixed solutions. Moreover, HS-PAANa adsorption shows an excellent recyclability, after five cycles, HS-PAANa still maintained MB and CV removal rates of 93.85% and 95.08%, respectively. Therefore, the bioadsorbent HS-PAANa exhibits high potential as a highly efficient adsorbent for the effective treatment of cationic pollutants in wastewater.

Enhancement mechanism of epoxy resin by polyacrylic acid-modified 3D porous graphene: A microscopic and molecular dynamics perspective

Graphene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial with remarkable strength and is a highly effective enhancer in polymer materials. However, the mechanisms underlying the enhancement between the enhancer and the base material remain uncertain. In this study, we have successfully prepared advanced epoxy nanocomposites by grafting polyacrylic acid onto 3D porous graphene (3DG). The covalent functionalization of 3DG has proven to be highly effective in preventing its aggregation within the epoxy matrix. The mechanical test results demonstrated a substantial enhancement in the tensile strength (41.04%), elastic modulus (43.23%), and impact strength (370.88%) of the epoxy resin upon the incorporation of polyacrylic acid-modified graphene (PAAMG). The fracture surfaces of the composites were examined using scanning electron microscopy, which provided insights into the enhancer's mechanism of enhancement. Notably, employing a range of molecular dynamic simulations and analyses, we found that PAAMG exhibits the ability to bifurcate cracks, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the material.

Synergistic pervaporation dehydration of ethanol/water mixture: Exploring the potential of a covalently designed hybrid membrane structure of polyacrylic acid grafted carbon nitride and polyvinyl alcohol

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) grafted CN sheet (P-g-CN) was synthesized to enhance the dispersive properties of carbon nitride (CN) in the membrane. A successful PAA grafting to the CN was confirmed from FTIR, TGA, and Zeta potential and XRD analyses. The A PVA membrane embedded P-g-CN, including a covalently constructed polymer-filler network, was developed to separate ethanol-water mixtures using pervaporation (PV). XPS study has confirmed a covalent attachment of P-g-CN sheets to the PVA matrix. Thereby, a defect-free membrane matrix was observed in the FESEM analysis. A 10 wt% loaded PVA-P-g-CN10 composite membrane was compared to the pristine PVA membrane, demonstrating improved PV dehydration performance. The flux decreased from 0.21 kg/m2h of pristine PVA membrane to 0.17 kg/m2h of PVA-P-g-CN10 membrane, while the separation factor improved from 49 to 176 in a 90/10 wt % ethanol/water feed at 40 °C. This improvement can be attributed to the selective diffusion of water through the P-g-CN interlayer spacing and tiny triangular nanopores in the s-triazine network, along with their dispersibility in the PVA matrix, resulting in well-ordered membrane morphology. Furthermore, PVA-P-g-CN10 exhibited higher water permeance (43.31–86.07 GPU) than ethanol (1.18–10.47 GPU) as the feed temperature increased from 30 to 70 °C, suggesting P-g-CN successfully inhibits swelling in the feed solution through proper interaction with PVA. In a long-term PV test lasting 250 h, the PVA-P-g-CN10 membrane displayed excellent structural stability and maintained its performance.

Inhibition of Adherence and Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Immobilized ZnO Nanoparticles on Silicone Urinary Catheter Grafted by Gamma Irradiation.

Nosocomial infections caused by microbial biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces such as urinary catheters are complicated by antibiotic resistance, representing a common problem in hospitalized patients. Therefore, we aimed to modify silicone catheters to resist microbial adherence and biofilm formation by the tested microorganisms. This study used a simple direct method to graft poly-acrylic acid onto silicone rubber films using gamma irradiation to endow the silicone surface with hydrophilic carboxylic acid functional groups. This modification allowed the silicone to immobilize ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as an anti-biofilm. The modified silicone films were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, and TGA. The anti-adherence ability of the modified silicone films was evidenced by the inhibition of biofilm formation by otherwise strong biofilm-producing Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and yeast clinical isolates. The modified ZnO NPs grafted silicone showed good cytocompatibility with the human epithelial cell line. Moreover, studying the molecular basis of the inhibitory effect of the modified silicone surface on biofilm-associated genes in a selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate showed that anti-adherence activity might be due to the significant downregulation of the expression of lasR, lasI, and lecB genes by 2, 2, and 3.3-fold, respectively. In conclusion, the modified silicone catheters were low-cost, offering broad-spectrum anti-biofilm activity with possible future applications in hospital settings.

Investigation on the Photodegradation Stability of Acrylic Acid-Grafted Poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate)/Organically Modified Layered Zinc Phenylphosphonate Composites.

The application efficiency of biodegradable polymers used in a natural environment requires improved resistance to ultraviolet (UV) photodegradation. In this report, 1,6-hexanediamine modified layered zinc phenylphosphonate (m-PPZn), utilized as a UV protection additive for acrylic acid-grafted poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate) (g-PBCT), was successfully fabricated and compared to the solution mixing process. Experimental data of both wide-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the g-PBCT polymer matrix was intercalated into the interlayer spacing of m-PPZn, which was approximately delaminated in the composite materials. The evolution of photodegradation behavior for g-PBCT/m-PPZn composites was identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography after being artificially irradiated by a light source. The change of carboxyl group produced via photodegradation was used to show the enhanced UV protection ability of m-PPZn in the composite materials. All results indicate that the carbonyl index of the g-PBCT/m-PPZn composite materials after photodegradation for 4 weeks was extensively lower than that of the pure g-PBCT polymer matrix. These findings were also supported by the decrease in the molecular weight of g-PBCT after photodegradation for 4 weeks, from 20.76% to 8.21%, with the loading of 5 wt% m-PPZn content. Both observations were probably owing to the better UV reflection ability of m-PPZn. This investigation shows, through typical methodology, a significant advantage of fabricating the photodegradation stabilizer to enhance the UV photodegradation behavior of the biodegradable polymer using an m-PPZn compared to other UV stabilizer particles or additives.

Facile synthesis of copolymerized cellulose grafted hydrogel doped calcium oxide nanocomposites with improved antioxidant activity for anti-arthritic and controlled release of doxorubicin for anti-cancer evaluation

The combination treatment is considered an approach to attaining synergistic impact while minimizing applied dosage. Hydrogels are analogous to the tissue environment attributed to hydrophilic and porous structure. Despite extensive study in biological and biotechnological domains, their restricted mechanical strength and limited functionalities impede their potential uses. Emerging strategies are centred on research and developing nanocomposite hydrogels to combat these issues. Herein, we prepared copolymerized hydrogel by grafting poly-acrylic acid P(AA) onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and adding CNC-g-PAA as dopant (2 and 4 wt%) in calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles to generate an effective hydrogel doped nanocomposite (NCH) (CNC-g-PAA/CaO) for biomedical applications such as anti-arthritic, anti-cancer, and antibacterial investigations alongside their comprehensive characterization. CNC-g-PAA/CaO (4 %), compared to other samples, had a substantially higher antioxidant potential (72.21 %). Doxorubicin, a potential chemotherapeutic drug, was then effectively loaded into NCH (99 %) via electrostatic interaction, and pH-triggered based release was found to be >57.9 % in 24 h. Furthermore, molecular docking investigation against targeted protein Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and in vitro cytotoxicity study verified the improved antitumor effectiveness of CNC-g-PAA and CNC-g-PAA/CaO. These outcomes indicated that hydrogels might serve as potential delivery vehicles for innovative multifunctional biomedical applications.

Improved negative charge of tight ceramic ultrafiltration membranes for protein-resistant and easy-cleaning performance

Fouling caused by adsorption is a challenge in protein separation and purification using membrane technology. The interaction between the membrane surface and proteins is significant for developing antifouling modified membranes. In this study, a negative ZrO2 tubular ceramic membrane was constructed by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) to mitigate protein fouling. PAA of 2000 Da had little effect on the membrane pore and surface wettability, as characterized by XPS, dextran retention, contact angle, and water permeance. The protein resistance of the modified membrane was investigated by protein filtration. The modified membranes had a higher stable normalized flux (0.6) and flux recovery ratio (90 %) than that of the original membrane. In addition, the performance of the modified membranes was sensitive to the pore sizes of the original membranes. When the original membrane was unable to completely reject bovine serum albumin (BSA), the weak interaction between BSA and the membrane pores would reduce rejection after PAA modification. And the flux recovery ratio of modified membrane increased by 55 %. Overall, PAA modification reduces irreversible fouling by electrostatic repulsion, and improves the protein-resistant and easy-cleaning performance of ceramic membranes.

Benzocaine mesoporous silica nanoparticles/bio polysaccharides-based hydrogels loaded cotton bandage as a platform for topical anesthesia

A new topical delivery system based on bio polysaccharides-based hydrogels for the local anesthetics drug benzocaine, was primed to circumvent its limited efficacy and short duration of action. The new system based on encapsulating the drug within nano-mesoporous silica then incorporating into different types of natural bio polysaccharides-based hydrogels including pullulan, dextran, acacia, and amino cellulose. Polysaccharides based hydrogels were prepared by grafting of polyacrylic acid onto the nature polysaccharides and then confirmed. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were prepared and the drug benzocaine was encapsulating within it. The size, and morphology of prepared nanoparticles and the loaded nanoparticles were visualized using TEM and SEM analysis. Drug loaded nanoparticles were then incorporated into the prepared bio polysaccharides-based hydrogels and these composites were used to treat cotton gauze to use it as anesthetics topical bandage. The resistance to microbial growth of the prepared hydrogels were investigated using culture count method and the mechanical properties of the treated cotton gauze was tested. Drug loaded silica rented in polysaccharide-based hydrogel were conducted in invitro-release and ex vivo drug permeation study through isolated rat skin. In comparison to free drug aqueous suspension the hydrogel patches revealed enhanced amplified skin permeation sustained all over 24 h.

Synthesis of a graft copolymer of chloroprene rubber with acrylic acid as a shoe adhesive

Synthesized graft copolymers of chloroprene rubber with acrylic acid. A mixture of benzene and dimethylformamide was used as a solvent, and potassium persulfate was used as a polymerization initiator. Based on the dependence of the copolymerization rate on the concentrations of components and temperature, the order of the reaction rate in terms of the concentration of acrylic acid (2.0), potassium persulfate (1.2) and the activation energy of the process (24.4 kJ/mole) were determined. The degree of grafting of polyacrylic acid increases from 2% to 140% with increasing process time, monomer and initiator concentrations. Grafting efficiency is high (70-90%) in a wide range of time and component concentrations. The graft copolymer has high adhesion to the surface of the skin and tissue.

Enhancing the adsorption affinity of cellulose acetate film toward cationic dye by incorporating Cloisite 30B grafted with polyacrylic acid

AbstractCellulose acetate (CA) is known for its low adsorption affinity toward dyes, hence this study aims to improve its adsorption affinity toward cationic dyes by introducing Cloisite 30B grafted with polyacrylic acid (C30B‐g‐PAA). C30B‐g‐PAA was synthesized by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) onto Cloisite 30B (C30B) using in‐situ reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Different weight ratios of unmodified (raw) and modified (C30B‐g‐PAA) C30B (0, 25, and 50 wt%) were incorporated into CA matrices to prepare a series of CA nanocomposite films. The results showed that the adsorption affinity of the prepared nanocomposite films increased toward cationic methylene blue (MB) dye with incorporating either unmodified or modified C30B, but a significant improvement was observed with the incorporating C30B‐g‐PAA with a maximum adsorption capacity of 53 mg/g for a load of 50 wt%. This indicates that the surface modification of C30B with PAA was effective in enhancing the adsorption efficacy of CA. The kinetic and isotherm studies showed that the adsorption behavior of CA nanocomposite film with 50 wt% of C30B‐g‐PAA followed pseudo‐second‐order and Langmuir isothermal model. Regeneration study showed good reusability of CA nanocomposite film with 50 wt% of C30B‐g‐PAA. These results demonstrate that the nanocomposite film with 50 wt% of C30B‐g‐PAA can be used as a highly efficient, easy to separate, and reusable adsorbent material to remove MB dye from wastewater.

Modulation of viscoelasticity and interfacial potential of polyelectrolyte brush by Ion-specific interactions

Polyelectrolyte brushes have drawn increasing attention because their physicochemical properties can be modulated by adjustment of the pH and ion concentration. Here, we report the controlled grafting of poly acrylic acid containing cysteine side chains onto supported lipid membranes to allow for the modulation of viscoelasticity as well as interfacial potential by ion-specific interactions, that is, with cadmium ions. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation indicated that the resonance frequency increased and the dissipation decreased as the cadmium concentration increased, attributed to the dehydration of brushes. Systematic variation of the molecular structure demonstrated that the coexistence of thiol and carboxyl moieties is necessary for the viscoelastic response, suggesting that these structural features, common with naturally occurring proteins, form complexes with cadmium ions. Analysis of the height fluctuation of colloidal particles by reflection interference contrast microscopy indicated that the change in the viscoelasticity of the polymer brush layer alters the curvature of the effective interfacial potential. Intriguingly, we found that modulation of the viscoelasticity and interfacial potential caused by calcium ions is weak, suggesting that the interaction is ion-specific. Polymer brushes that can alter the interfacial potential through changes in the degree of hydration opens new avenues for the design of smart, adaptable surfaces.

Physical Properties and Polymorphism of Acrylic Acid-Grafted Poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Organically Modified Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocomposites.

Novel and biodegradable acrylic acid-grafted poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/organically modified layered double hydroxide (g-PBAT/m-LDH) nanocomposites were synthesized through the polycondensation and transesterification process, with the covalent linkages between the polymer and the inorganic materials. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the g-PBAT/m-LDH nanocomposites. The experimental results show that the m-LDH was exfoliated and widely distributed in the g-PBAT matrix. The addition of m-LDH into the g-PBAT extensively improved the storage modulus at −90 °C, when compared to that of the pure g-PBAT matrix. The effects of the minor comonomer of the butylene terephthalate (BT) unit and the addition of m-LDH on the crystallization behavior, and the polymorphic crystals of the g-PBAT at numerous crystallization temperatures, were examined, using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The data indicate that the minor comonomer of the BT unit into g-PBAT can significantly change the starting formation temperatures of the α-form and ꞵ-form crystals, while a change in the starting formation temperatures of the α-form and ꞵ-form crystals using the addition of m-LDH into g-PBAT is not evident.

Hierarchical surface engineering of carbon fiber for enhanced composites interfacial properties and microwave absorption performance

The development of structure/function integrated materials is an important trend in military field. Herein, a hierarchical structure was introduced on carbon fiber surface via the successively grafting of polyacrylic acid (PAA) layer and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. It is found that this hierarchical structure could simultaneously improve the composites interfacial strength (30.5%) and toughness (82.6%), due to the mechanical interlocking by Fe3O4 and polarity matching by PAA layer. Moreover, for fiber's microwave absorption (MA) performance, the introduced magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles facilitate the impedance matching and magnetic loss, and large number of dipoles from PAA provide polarization loss for microwave dissipation, and finally lead to enhanced MA properties with strong absorption (−40.6 dB) and a wide effective bandwidth (6.13 GHz). In all, the present study offers a facile strategy for the preparation of structural/microwave-absorbing integrated carbon fiber, and could further provide guidance for other carbon fiber-based multifunctional materials.

Synthesis and Physical Properties of Biodegradable Nanocomposites Fabricated Using Acrylic Acid-Grafted Poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate) and Organically-Modified Layered Zinc Phenylphosphonate

A set of novel biocompatible aliphatic–aromatic nanocomposites, including numerous acrylic acid-grafted poly(butylene carbonate-co-terephthalate) (g-PBCT) and organically-modified layered zinc phenylphosphonate (m-PPZn), were successfully synthesized via polycondensation and transesterification. A primary covalent linkage was produced between the biocompatible polymer and the inorganic reinforcements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra demonstrated the successful grafting of acrylic acid into the PBCT (g-PBCT). Both wide-angle X-ray diffraction data and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the g-PBCT polymer matrix was intercalated into the interlayer spacing of the m-PPZn and was chemically interacted with the m-PPZn. The addition of m-PPZn in the g-PBCT matrix significantly improved its storage modulus. A slight increase in thermal stability was observed in all the g-PBCT/m-PPZn composites. Both results are attributed to the presence of covalent bond between g-PBCT and m-PPZn.

Functionalized Biomass Carbon-Based Adsorbent for Simultaneous Removal of Pb2+ and MB in Wastewater.

It is of great significance to realize the sustainable development of the environment to synthesize functional materials by value-added utilization of waste resources. Herein, a composite material of polyacrylic acid/lignosulfonate sodium/cotton biochar (PAA/LS/BC) was successfully prepared by grafting polyacrylic acid with functionalized waste cotton biochar and lignosulfonate sodium. The obtained absorbent showed prominent capture ability toward Pb2+ and methylene blue (MB) with capture characteristics of the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. This experiment explored the adsorption performance of the adsorbent for pollutants at different conditions, and further revealed the selective adsorption of Pb2+ and MB in the mixed system. Analysis confirmed that electrostatic attraction and complexation are the most critical methods to remove contaminants. Additionally, the regeneration and stability experiment showed that the adsorption capacity of PAA/LS/BC for pollutants did not significantly decrease after five runs of adsorption–desorption. Various results can demonstrate that the adsorbent has excellent performance for removing pollutants and can be used as a material with development potential in the field of adsorption.

Synthesis and application of eco-friendly superabsorbent composites based on xanthan gum and semi-coke

An eco-friendly superabsorbent composites of xanthan gum-g-polyacrylic acid/semi-coke (XG-g-PAA/SC) were fabricated via grafting of polyacrylic acid onto the XG in the presence of SC. The obtained products were characterized in combination with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result indicated that the SC interacted with the polymeric network by hydrogen bond or electrostatic interaction. The swelling ratio of the best sample XG-g-PAA/SC (15 wt%) in distilled water and 0.9 wt% NaCl solution was 410.8 and 61.5 g/g by optimizing the polymerization conditions. In addition, compared with the blank sample (only containing soil), it can be found that adding a certain amount of XG-g-PAA/SC can significantly improve the soil water retention efficiency, which can be further proved by the results of plant pot experiment. Based on the above excellent swelling capacity, water holding capacity and plant growth promoting performance, it can be inferred that the XG-g-PAA/SC is expected to become a water retaining agent or soil regulator for plant growth.