Polymer Adsorption Research Articles

Synthesis of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-comb-polyethylene glycol@TiO2 graft copolymer nanocomposite and their analytical practicality for adsorptive removal of safranin-O from water samples

ABSTRACT This study reports the designing of comb-type polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalised poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-@Titanium oxide (PHB-comb-PEG@TiO2) through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation approach for the first time and successfully used as a potential candidate for safranin-O (Saf-O) removal from water. The synthesised polymeric material was characterised by different techniques to examine the surface morphology, elemental analysis, surface functionality, and chemical structure of the prepared polymeric material by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and 1 h NMR. Different parameters such as pH, adsorbent dose, temperature, concentration, and equilibrium time were optimised during this study to enhance adsorption performance. The adsorption mechanism pattern and kinetic equilibrium time were best defined by the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetics with a maximum adsorption capacity of 344.83 mg/g. A linear concentration range (10–150 μg/L) was obtained with a satisfactory low limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was achieved as 0.43 and 1.4 μg/L, respectively. The developed polymeric adsorbent was utilised successfully for the Saf-O removal from an aqueous medium. The results obtained suggest that the designed polymeric adsorbent could be a potential candidate in terms of its reusability, simplicity, high adsorption capacity, cost-effectiveness, excellent linear range, with fast kinetics.

A comprehensive study on methylene blue removal via polymer and protein nanoparticle adsorbents

Water pollution, particularly from industrial contaminants such as dyes, is a significant global concern. Various technologies, including nanoscale materials, are employed for water and wastewater treatment. Among these, adsorption process as an effective method due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. This study comprised both theoretical and experimental phases. Initially, computer simulations were utilized to evaluate the interaction between methylene blue and three selected nanoparticles, ultimately choosing Bovine Serum Albumin protein nanoadsorbent based on energy considerations. Subsequently, adsorption experiments were conducted using this nanosorbent. The results indicated a maximum dye removal efficiency of 69% under the conditions of pH 11, an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L, an adsorbent dose of 0.5 g/L, a contact time of 60 min, and an optimal temperature of 25 °C. The maximum adsorption capacity under optimal conditions was found to be 38.52 mg/g. Additionally, the adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir equation, and the kinetics adhered to the pseudo-second-order model.

Rheology control of cement paste by in-situ polymerization for 3D printing applications

Rheology control is the most critical determinant of success in 3D concrete printing (3DCP), typically achieved through the hydration control of cement. However, this inevitably leads to overdesign of printed concrete featuring a low water-to-binder ratio (w/b), which is incompatible with its non-load bearing purpose and raises a series of environmental and durability problems, such as high carbon footprint and early-age shrinkage. Herein, we propose a novel rheology control strategy via in-situ polymerization, allowing the mix design of printed concrete with a high w/b ratio of 0.6. The proposed approach consists of two stages: 1) introducing monomers as retarders to extend the open time during pumping, and 2) incorporating initiators into the mixture to trigger polymerization, facilitating the structural build-up after deposition by forming polymer bridges between cement particles. We show that the addition of monomers significantly retards yield stress growth, while the following in-situ polymerization engenders a rapid strength development, satisfying the rheological requirements for 3DCP. Mechanistic experiments reveal that the retarding effect results from the complexation of monomers with aqueous species, such as Ca2+ ions, thereby hindering the nucleation of hydrates. As polymerization initiates, the impetus for the structural build-up of the cement pastes first originates from the proliferation of polymer bridges due to the gradual formation and adsorption of polymer, and then relies on the reinforcement of these polymer bridges through the formation of chemical bonds or crosslinks. On top of the environmental benefit, the proposed strategy holds the potential in avoiding admixtures conflict, mitigating early-age shrinkage, and improving mechanical properties. Our strategy opens possibilities for a novel technical route to achieve rheology control of 3DCP, and the discovery in this work will be a landmark for revealing the mechanism of 3DCP via in-situ polymerization.

Investigation on the development of Novel PAM structure as high-performance clay inhibitor in HT/HP conditions by using functional groups

Polyacrylamide (PAM) molecular structures are not stable at higher temperatures, limiting their effectiveness in water-based drilling fluid (WBDF) applications. This study focuses on identifying functional groups that can enhance the thermal stability of PAM structure. It presents a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the swelling inhibition capacity of both low and high molecular weight (MW) PAM-based polymers at high temperature and high pressure (HT/HP). The mechanism by which modified PAM interacts with and adsorbs to the clay (Na-MMT) surface is examined, along with an analysis of the surface properties of the clay minerals. Therefore, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation results revealed that the Novel PAM polymers with high MW containing ethyl and benzyl groups demonstrate greater stability and more controlled deformation behavior compared to conventional PAM at HT conditions. Surface modification and hydrophobic effects were observed in the interactions between polymers and Na-MMT. Low MW PAM-based polymers showed larger fluctuations in d-spacing, indicating various or more disruptive interactions. In contrast, the insertion of high MW PAM-based polymer resulted in significantly narrower and lower d-spacing fluctuation ranges. The Novel PAM exhibited superior performance, providing lower d-spacing fluctuations compared to both low MW PAM-based polymers and standard PAM. Across a temperature range from 300 to 600°K, the Novel PAM consistently improved polymer adsorption on the Na-MMT surface compared to standard PAM. Indicating that the modifications effectively reduce the interaction between Na-MMT particles and water molecules while enhancing the interaction between the polymer and Na-MMT, potentially leading to more stable structures in HT/HP environments. The enhanced stability suggests that Novel PAM is more suitable for WBDF applications, as it is less prone to structural changes and can maintain its integrity under harsh conditions. The modifications provide the polymer with better resilience, potentially leading to improved performance in practical applications.

Biphenyl derived hyper-crosslinked polymer as a metal-free adsorbent for the removal of pharmaceuticals from water

The global concern of emergent aquatic pollutants, especially pharmaceutical contaminants, emphasizes the necessity for metal-free adsorbents to tackle water contamination issues. In this direction, a biphenyl-derived hyper-crosslinked polymer (poly-biph) was utilized as an adsorbent for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CPX) and doxycycline (DOX) from water. Micro-mesoporous hyper-crosslinked polymeric adsorbent (poly-biph) was synthesized by using biphenyl as precursor and formaldehyde dimethyl acetal (FDA) as crosslinker via microwave assisted method. It exhibits specific surface area (SABET) and pore volume of 1088 m2/g and 1.3 cm3/g, respectively. The spectral analysis confirmed the successful crosslinking of biphenyl with the linker FDA. The sorption efficiency of metal-free poly-biph for CPX and DOX was evaluated via batch and continuous flow modes under various operational parameters. poly-biph exhibited swift removal efficiency (>80 %) for CPX and DOX within a min. The batch mode sorption modeling revealed a chemisorption process and remarkable maximum sorption capacity of 470.8 and 425.1 mg/g for CPX and DOX, respectively. The continuous-flow studies of poly-biph revealed the better applicability of the Clark kinetic model with a maximum bed capacity of 313.5 and 372.4 mg/g for CPX and DOX, respectively. Synergistic mechanisms, including π-π interaction, electrostatic interaction, and pore-filling effect, were found to be the main driving forces for the sorptive removal of CPX and DOX onto poly-biph. The findings indicated that poly-biph possesses the ability to effectively eliminate DOX and CPX from the aquatic environment.

Biomimetic Porous MXene Antibacterial Adsorbents with Enhanced Toxins Trapping Ability for Hemoperfusion.

2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, i.e., MXene, are recently attracting wide attentions and presenting competitive performances as adsorbents used in hemoperfusion. Nonetheless, the nonporous texture and easily restacking feature limit the efficient adsorption of toxin molecules inside MXene and between layers. To circumvent this concern, here a plerogyra sinuosa biomimetic porous titanium carbide MXene (P-Ti3C2) is reported. The hollow and hierarchically porous structure with large surface area benefits the maximum access of toxins as well as trapping them inside the spherical cavity. The cambered surface of P-Ti3C2 prevents layers restacking, thus affording better interlaminar adsorption. In addition to enhanced toxin removal ability, the P-Ti3C2 is found to selectively adsorb more middle and large toxin molecules than small toxin molecules. It possibly originates from the rich Ti-deficient vacancies in the P-MXene lattice that increases the affinity with middle/large toxin molecules. Also, the vacancies as active sites facilitate the production of reactive oxygen under NIR irradiation to promote the photodynamic antibacterial performance. Then, the versatility of P-MXene is validated by extension to niobium carbide (P-Nb2C). And the simulated hemoperfusion proves the practicability of the P-MXene as polymeric adhesives-free adsorbents to eliminate the broad-spectrum toxins.

Polymeric Adsorbent for the Effective Removal of Toxic Dyes from Aqueous Solutions: Equilibrium, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Modeling

AbstractThis study investigates the adsorption behavior of anionic (Congo red, Eosin yellow) and cationic (Malachite green) dyes on synthesized TD polymer particles, highlighting the material's potential as an effective adsorbent for industrial wastewater treatment. Key operational parameters, including initial solution's pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, and temperature, were systematically evaluated to determine their influence on adsorption efficiency. The experimental data demonstrated that the Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit for all three dyes, indicating monolayer adsorption with maximum adsorption capacities of 153.8 mg/g for Malachite green, 49.36 mg/g for Congo red, and 227.9 mg/g for Eosin yellow. Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption of Malachite green and Congo red followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics, while Eosin yellow adsorption was better described by the intra‐particle diffusion model. Thermodynamic assessments, including Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°), and entropy (ΔS°), confirmed the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption processes for Malachite green and Eosin yellow, contrasting with the exothermic behavior observed for Congo red. These findings underscore the versatility and effectiveness of TD polymer particles in removing both anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solutions. Further research could explore material optimization and real‐world applications to broaden their utility in sustainable water treatment strategies.

Novel Poly(N‐(1‐cyclohexylethyl)Acrylamide‐co‐Styrene‐co‐Ethyleneglycol Dimethacrylate) Synthesis for Efficient Methylene Blue Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions Synthesis

AbstractSynthesis and evaluation of a new polymeric adsorbent for adsorbing methylene blue (MB) from these economical aqueous solutions were investigated. In the first step of the study, N‐(1‐cyclohexylethyl)acrylamide (CEA) monomer was synthesized using S‐(+)‐1‐cyclohexylethylamine and acryloyl and the obtained CEA was analyzed by FTIR, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR. Then, a poly(CEA‐co‐Styrene‐co‐EGDMA) copolymer was obtained by cross‐linking CEA monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and styrene monomers by subsequent radical polymerization episodes. FTIR, solid‐NMR, and elemental analysis methods were used for the characterization of this copolymer. In the last step of the study, the obtained poly(CEA‐co‐Styrene‐co‐EGDMA) copolymer was used as an adsorbent to adsorb MB from aqueous solutions. In the study, various factors such as adsorption properties, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial concentration, and solution pH were investigated. In the study, the most suitable adsorbent dose was determined as 0.1 g, initial solution concentration as 500 mg/L, contact time as 70 min, and pH as 7. Adsorption capacity was determined as 256.4 mg/g at 25 °C. As a result of the analysis of kinetic data, it was found that the model with the highest regression coefficient and the best fit with the experimental data was the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model.

Rheological Behavior of Clay Tailings in the Presence of Divalent Cations and Sodium Polyacrylate: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

This study analyzes the behavior of sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) as a rheological modifier for clay-based tailings. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of calcium and magnesium ions in industrial water, which are analyzed through rheograms, zeta potential measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations. The results are interpreted as electrostatic interactions, steric phenomena, and cation solvation. This interpretation integrates experimental studies with microscopic analyses, employing molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In all cases, a decrease in the yield stress of synthetic slurries is observed as the dosing of NaPA increases due to greater repulsion between tailings particles through an increase in electrostatic repulsion and larger steric forces that hinder agglomeration. However, efficiency is reduced in the presence of divalent cations as zeta potential measurements suggest a reduction in the electrical charges of the particles and the polymer, making its application more challenging. The differences obtained in the presence of calcium compared to magnesium are explained in terms of the solvation of these ions and their impact on the polymer conformation in solution and adsorption on the mineral surfaces. This explanation is reinforced by molecular dynamics studies, which indicate that polymer adsorption on minerals depends on the type of mineral and type of ion. Particularly for quartz, the highest adsorption of NaPA occurs in the presence of calcium, whereas for a kaolinite surface, the highest polymer adsorption is obtained in the presence of magnesium. The competitive effect of these phenomena leads to the rheological behavior of the tailings being dominated by the effects originating in the clay.

Green and Mild Fabrication of Magnetic Poly(trithiocyanuric acid) Polymers for Rapid and Selective Separation of Mercury(II) Ions in Aqueous Samples.

The removal and detection of highly toxic mercury(II) ions (Hg2+) in water used daily is essential for human health and monitoring environmental pollution. Efficient porous organic polymers (POPs) can provide a strong adsorption capacity toward heavy metal ions, although the complex synthetic process and inconvenient phase separation steps limit their application. Hence, a combination of POPs and magnetic nanomaterials was proposed and a new magnetic porous organic polymer adsorbent was fabricated by a green and mild redox reaction in the aqueous phase with trithiocyanuric acid (TA) and its sodium salts acting as reductive monomers and iodine acting as an oxidant. In the preparation steps, no additional harmful organic solvent is required and the byproducts of sodium iodine are generally considered to be non-toxic. The resulting magnetic poly(trithiocyanuric acid) polymers (MPTAPs) are highly porous, have large surface areas, are rich in sulfhydryl groups and show easy magnetic separation ability. The experimental results show that MPTAPs exhibit good adsorption affinity toward Hg2+ with high selectivity, rapid adsorption kinetics (10 min), a large adsorption capacity (211 mg g-1) and wide adsorption applicability under various pH environments (pH 2~8). Additionally, MPTAPs can be reused for up to 10 cycles, and the magnetic separation step of MPTAPs is fast and convenient, reducing energy consumption compared to centrifugation and filtration steps required for non-magnetic adsorbents. These results demonstrate the promising capability of MPTAPs as superior adsorbents for effective adsorption and separation of Hg2+. Based on this, the prepared MPTAPs were adopted as magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) materials for isolation of trace Hg2+ from aqueous samples. Under optimized conditions, the extraction and quantification of trace Hg2+ in water samples were accomplished using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection after MSPE procedures. The proposed MPTAPs-based MSPE-ICP-MS method is efficient, rapid, sensitive and selective for the determination of trace Hg2+, and was successfully employed for the accurate analysis of trace Hg2+ in tap water, wastewater, lake water and river water samples.

Role of Charge Density and Surface Area of Tailored Ionic Porous Organic Polymers for Adsorption and Antibacterial Actions.

The development of high-performance adsorbents for environmental remediation is a current need, and ionic porous organic polymers (iPOPs), due to their high physicochemical stability, high surface area, added electrostatic interaction, and easy reusability, have already established themselves as a better adsorbent. However, research on the structural design of high-performance iPOP-based adsorbents is still nascent. This study explored the building blocks' role in optimizing the polymers' charge density and surface area to develop better polymeric adsorbents. Among the three synthesized polymers, iPOP-ZN1, owing to its high surface area and high charge density in its active sites, proved to be the best adsorbent for adsorbing inorganic and organic pollutants in an aqueous medium. The polymers were efficient enough to capture and store iodine vapor in the solid state. Further, this study tried to address using iodine-loaded polymers in antibacterial action. Iodine-loaded iPOPs show impressive antibacterial behavior against E. coli, B. subtilis, and H. pylori.

Preparation, characterization and application of polymeric ultra-permeable biodegradable ferromagnetic nanocomposite adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from synthetic wastewater: kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination in drinking water due to industrial activities is a growing worldwide concern. Cr(VI) concentrations exceeding a few parts per billion (ppb) can cause serious health problems such as asthma, blood cancer, kidney-related diseases, liver and spleen damage, as well as neurological system, immunological deficiencies, and reproductive issues. This study, thus, explored the feasibility of employing a novel polymeric ferromagnetic nanocomposite adsorbent made of low-cost, biodegradable, and ultra-permeable materials from pulp and paper sludge for adsorptive removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) from synthetic wastewater. Vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller surface area (BET), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to analyze the produced nanocomposite adsorbent. The Fourier transform infrared results confirmed the presence of adsorptive peaks attributed to −OH, −NH2, and FeO. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs revealed a porous adsorbent surface. XRD revealed the existence of the crystalline spinel-structured magnetite (Fe3O4) phase of iron oxide, while the saturation magnetization was established to be 26.90 emu/g. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis confirmed a slight decrease in the surface area of the nanocomposite adsorbent to 6.693 m2.g−1, compared to Fe3O4 (7.591 m2.g−1). The optimum conditions for Cr6+ removal were pH 2.0, 1.0 g/L adsorbent dose, room temperature (25°C), 120 min contact time, and 20 mg/L pollutant concentration. During removal, the Cr(VI) was adsorbed by electrostatic attraction and/or reduced to trivalent chromium Cr(III). At low starting Cr(VI) concentrations, chemisorption dominated the removal process, but as concentrations increased, physisorption became more significant. The prepared nanocomposite adsorbent presented exceptional removal efficiency of up to 92.23%, indicating that it may be useful for the adsorption of metal ions from industrial and household wastewater.

Reprocessible, Reusable, and Self-Healing Polymeric Adsorbent for Removing Perfluorinated Pollutants.

Here, we report a reprocessible, reusable, self-healing, and form-switching polymeric adsorbent for remediating fluorinated pollutants in water. The copolymer hydrogel is designed to contain fluorophilic segments and cationic segments to induce strong binding with perfluorinated pollutants. The sorption performance reveals rapid and quantitative removal of these pollutants, driven by the synergistic effect of fluorophilic and electrostatic interaction. Importantly, a disulfide-containing dynamic crosslinker plays a crucial role in imparting multifunctionality. This enables self-healing by the restoration of crosslinks at the cut surfaces by disulfide exchange reactions and allows for the repeated use of the adsorbent via multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. Furthermore, the adsorbent is reprocessible by cleaving the crosslinks to afford linear copolymers, which can be repolymerized into a hydrogel network on demand. Also, form-switching capability is showcased through the aqueous self-assembly of linear copolymers into a fluorinated micelle, serving as another form of adsorbent for pollutant removal.

Chemical enhanced oil recovery using carbonized ZIF-67 MOFs and sulfonated copolymers at high reservoir temperatures

Traditional nanoparticle and polymer-based enhanced oil recovery methods face challenges such as nanoparticle agglomeration and polymer adsorption, particularly at elevated reservoir temperatures. This study introduces hybrid polymeric nanofluids, combining carbonized Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) with sulfonated copolymers to address these issues. Viscosity tests were conducted at 25 °C, 50 °C, 75 °C, and 90 °C, revealing a 39.67 % increase in viscosity at 90 °C, attributed to electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions. For subsequent analyses—stability, adsorption, and core flooding—75 °C was selected as the representative high reservoir temperature. Stability assessments, confirmed via UV–Vis spectroscopy, demonstrated nanofluid durability over at least seven days. Carbonized ZIF-67 reduced polymer adsorption on rock surfaces, enhancing oil recovery and reducing environmental impact. Dynamic core flooding experiments showed a 45.8 % improvement in oil recovery by the hybrid nanofluid on carbonate rock samples. The hybrid nanofluid increased RF and RRF, improving the mobility ratio and redirecting flow to lower-permeability zones, reducing unswept oil and enhancing macroscopic sweep efficiency. Winsor Type III emulsification during the post-flooding phase of polymer-nanoparticle injection significantly improved trapped oil mobilization. Reduced contact angles from 170° to 100° altered the wettability, enhancing oil recovery. Carbonized ZIF-67 nanoparticles increased viscous forces, reduced capillary forces, and minimized polymer adsorption. The polymeric nanofluid achieved a capillary number of 1.0 × 10−3, two orders higher than that of polymer alone, resulting in superior performance. Injectivity optimization showed shear rates of 15.9 s−1 in 1700 mD cores and 79.8 s−1 in 80 mD cores, causing pressure drops of 15 psi and 1200 psi, respectively. This highlights injectivity challenges in 80 mD cores, while cores ≥ 290 mD are ideal for our polymer-nanoparticle hybrid applications.

Development of a Fully Bio-based, Higly Efficient Polymeric Adsorbent Via UV Curing for Removal of Cationic Dyes

Development of a Fully Bio-based, Higly Efficient Polymeric Adsorbent Via UV Curing for Removal of Cationic Dyes

Predicting protracted binding kinetics of polymers: Integral of first-passage times.

Capturing protracted binding kinetics of polymers onto the surface of nanoobjects is crucial for the rational design of multifunctional nanostructures, such as patchy nanoparticles and nanodrug carriers. Recently, we developed a method-integral of first-passage times (IFS)-to successfully predict nonequilibrium, kinetically stable superstructures fabricated by two star polymers. However, whether the protracted binding kinetics predicted by IFS corresponds to the actual polymer adsorption has only been incompletely explored. In this paper, we clarify this issue by using IFS to study polymer adsorption with binding ends onto a planar wall as an example. At low free-energy barriers, the IFS-predicted polymer binding kinetics is consistent with those extracted from direct simulations. At high free-energy barriers, the protracted polymer adsorption predicted by IFS coincides with those measured in experiments. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of IFS to study long-lived formation kinetics of polymer nanostructures by spanning timescales from picoseconds to macroscopic minutes, which establishes a foundation to use IFS in different applications.

Packing properties assessment of cement and alternative powders: Artefacts and protocols

This paper introduces three major recommendations for the assessment of the maximum packing fraction of mineral powders through compressive rheology. First, our results show that a minimum compressive stress is required for the measured solid volume fraction to tend towards a constant jamming fraction. Second, we show that the modification of the particles surface properties, especially their friction coefficient, by polymer adsorption, allows for this jamming fraction to get closer to the particle maximum packing fraction. Finally, we show that a minimal value of the initial solid volume fraction of a sample is necessary to prevent particle size separation during testing. We moreover show that the measured jamming fraction depends on the initial solid volume fraction of cement-based samples. We suggest that such a peculiar behavior finds its origin in the dependency of early hydrates volume or morphology on the initial supersaturation.

Magnetic Nanocomposites Revolutionize Heavy Metal Adsorption for Environmental Cleanup

General background: Magnetic nanocomposites have garnered significant attention due to their multifunctional properties, particularly in environmental remediation, where they can be used for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Specific background: Polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(p-hydroxyaniline) (P(p-OH An)) are conductive polymers known for their adsorption capabilities, while Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibit magnetic properties, facilitating separation and recovery. Knowledge gap: Despite the potential of Fe3O4-based composites, few studies have systematically explored the synergistic adsorption properties of PPy and P(p-OH An) in Fe3O4-based nanocomposites under varying environmental conditions. Aims: This study aimed to synthesize and characterize Fe3O4/PPy/P(p-OH An) magnetic nanocomposites and evaluate their adsorption performance under different temperatures and isotherm models. Results: The nanocomposite was synthesized through chemical oxidation polymerization and characterized using FTIR, TEM, AFM, and TGA, confirming its successful formation and nanoscale structure. Adsorption studies indicated an exothermic process, with a decrease in adsorption capacity at higher temperatures. The adsorption data fit the Freundlich isotherm better than the Langmuir model, suggesting heterogeneous surface adsorption. Novelty: This study demonstrates a novel Fe3O4/PPy/P(p-OH An) nanocomposite with superior adsorption properties, showing its potential in heavy metal ion removal and offering an improved understanding of temperature effects on adsorption performance. Implications: The findings underscore the composite's promise for environmental remediation applications, particularly in water treatment, and suggest further optimization of the adsorption conditions and evaluation of the composite's reusability for industrial-scale applications. Highlights: Enhanced Adsorption: Fe3O4/PPy nanocomposites offer combined magnetic and polymer adsorption properties. Temperature Sensitivity: Adsorption decreases as temperature rises, indicating exothermic behavior. Surface Interaction: Freundlich isotherm shows adsorption occurs on heterogeneous surfaces. Keywords: Magnetic nanocomposite, Fe3O4, Polypyrrole, Adsorption, Environmental remediation.

Adsorptive removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution by magnetic biodegradable and polymeric cellulose/Nylon 6 @Fe3O4 nanocomposite encapsulated with chitosan

A novel polymeric magnetic nanocomposite adsorbent (CNCs/N6 @ Fe3O4–CT) of low-cost, biodegradable, and ultra-permeable materials was prepared and characterized. The adsorbent was used to evaluate the effect of influencing factors and competitive ions on the adsorption of Pb2+ ions. The obtained data was fitted to equilibrium and thermodynamic models. The chemical and structural features of the adsorbent were investigated using a range of characterization techniques, including a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR confirmed the presence of OH–, –NH2, and FeO sorption sites. SEM micrographs revealed presence of visible pores on the surface of the adsorbent, while VSM established a magnetic strength of 26.90 emu/g. The adsorption data fitted well with Langmuir isotherm, whereas the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a coefficient of determination (R2 >0.98). The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of Pb2+ was exothermic and spontaneously adsorbed. The adsorption process was dominated by a chemical process with E > 10 kJ/mole, indicating an ion exchange process. The results established that the synthesized CNCs/N6 @ Fe3O4–CT nanocomposite adsorbent is viable for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions and has the potential for optimization and scale-up.

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid hollow polymer capsule with rich amino/imino groups for anionic contaminant removal in wastewater: Synthesis, performance and mechanism

Herein, we developed a new organic-inorganic hybrid polymer adsorbent, termed PECP, by one-step precipitation polycondensation between polyethyene polyamine and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene. The morphology and microstructure of PECP were investigated by FTIR, SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD and N2 adsorption. Results show PECP owned a hollow capsule structure and lots of amino/imino groups. The adsorption capacity of PECP for anionic dye methyl orange (MO) was up to 1031.9 mg g-1. The adsorption process was very fast. After five cycles, the adsorption capacity of PECP for MO still remained at 89 % of the initial adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, PECP delivered a high adsorption capacity for other anionic contaminants like acid chrome blue K (1003.5 mg g-1), congo red (1152.2 mg g-1) and diclofenac sodium (914.2 mg g-1). In the binary systems contaminated with double dyes, the separation factors of MO for methylene blue, Rhodamine B and crystal violet were up to 450.8, 55.4 and 355.9, respectively. The experimental data unveiled that the MO removal by PECP was very consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The removal process was spontaneous and endothermic. FTIR spectroscopy and XPS analysis confirmed the role of electrostatic force and hydrogen bond on the adsorption of MO on PECP.