Polyethyleneimine-grafted polyphosphazene microspheres for rapid and efficient capture of anionic dyes from wastewater

Developing novel adsorbent to capture organic contaminants from wastewater rapidly and efficiently is highly desirable for waste treatment and environmental restoration. Herein, we reported a new amino-rich spherical adsorbent (PZS-PEI) for highly-efficient uptake of anionic dyes from aqueous solution. The PZS-PEI adsorbent was fabricated through a two-step process including synthesis of PZS-Cl microspheres via room temperature polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone and subsequent surface grafting reaction of PZS-Cl microspheres using branched polyethyleneimine (PEI). The microstructure of as-obtained PZS-PEI microspheres was fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, zeta potential, and N₂ adsorption test. The adsorption performance of the PZS-PEI microspheres towards organic dyes was evaluated through carrying out a series of studies including various influence factor analysis, adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Results show that the PZS-PEI adsorbent owned good adsorption selectivity towards anionic dyes, and the maximum adsorption capacities for methyl orange (MO), acid chrome blue K, eosin-Y reached 190.29, 152.90, and 92.34 mg/g at 25 °C, respectively. In addition, the uptake behavior of organic dye by the PZS-PEI adsorbent conformed to Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model, and the adsorption process followed a three-stage intraparticle diffusion mode with an endothermic and spontaneous characteristic. Electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding were responsible for the highly-efficient adsorption of the PZS-PEI adsorbent towards typical anionic dye MO.     

Adsorption of dyes on carbon xerogels and templated carbons: influence of surface chemistry

The removal of textile dyes by adsorption onto carbon materials with extended mesoporosity is addressed in the present work. Two types of high surface area carbon adsorbents were prepared, namely a carbon xerogel and a templated carbon. Both materials were subsequently subjected to appropriate treatments in order to modify their surface chemistries, while keeping their textural properties relatively unchanged. The carbon adsorbents were extensively characterized by different techniques in order to correlate their adsorption performances with the corresponding surface properties. The behavior of the different materials was evaluated by determining equilibrium adsorption isotherms of two anionic dyes (Reactive Red 241 and Acid Blue 113) at different pH values. The results are compared with data previously obtained with commercial activated carbons subjected to the same treatments, and discussed in terms of the carbon surface chemistry and the interaction between the dye molecules and the adsorbent surface (dispersive and electrostatic interactions).     

Synthesis of UiO-66 with addition of HKUST-1 for enhanced adsorption of RBBR dye

Toxic dye removal, one of the most serious and common industrial pollutants released into natural water, is a critical issue for modern civilization. In this study, a series of UiO-66 composites was synthesized with addition of HKUST-1 using solvothermal method, which was used to remove RBBR dye. The structure, morphology and surface area of the composites were studied by several analyses. HK(5)/UiO-66 possessed a specific surface area of 557.63 m²/g and showed an adsorption capacity of 400 mg/g, higher than that of UiO-66 (261.92 mg/g) with a contact time of 50 min. Several adsorption parameters that influenced RBBR removal efficiency were investigated, such as pH, initial dye concentrations, and temperature. All the composites followed pseudo-first order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm adsorption. Moreover, the adsorption process occurred exothermically and spontaneously, indicating that the adsorption process was advantageous in terms of energy. The possible adsorption mechanism and cost analysis of the adsorbent were also studied in detail.     

Exploration of biomass waste as low cost adsorbents for removal of methylene blue dye: A review

Biomass waste, which is abundantly available has been studied as low cost biosorbent for dye sequestration from waste water. The present review reports on recent development for remediation of methylene blue dye by agricultural waste and fruit peel waste material. The aim of this study was to revise latest literature in the field of dye adsorption and discuss the dye adsorption capacity of different types of adsorbents. The activated carbon prepared from several types of biomass waste material enhances the adsorption efficiency after modification. The variety of activating agents, method of activation, characterization of biosorbent material like SEM, EDAX, BET surface area and FTIR analysis has been explored in the present review. The dye adsorption factors such as effect of pH, agitation time, temperature, adsorbate and adsorbent dose were discussed. The detailed investigation on applicability of isotherm model, kinetic model and thermodynamic parameters has also been presented. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm model focus on selectivity of adsorbent. Adsorption mechanism, Influence of surface area, influence of pH_pzc and comparative study of biomass waste adsorbent with other adsorbents have been carried out. The use of biomass waste adsorbents is economically feasible, environmental healthy and found to have outstanding removal capacity of dyes.     

Characterization and Mechanism Elucidation of Dye Adsorption Using Cuprous Selenide Nanoparticles from Aqueous Solutions

The removal of cationic dyes, methylene blue(MB) and rhodamine B(RB), and anionic dyes, methyl or-ange(MO) and eosin Y(EY), from aqueous solutions by adsorption using Cu₂Se nanoparticles(Cu₂SeNPs) was studied. The effects of the initial pH values, adsorbent doses, contact time, initial dye concentrations, salt concentrations, and operation temperatures on the adsorption capacities were investigated. The adsorption process was better fitted the Langmuir equation and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and was spontaneous and endothermic as well. The adsorption mechanism was probably based on the electrostatic interactions and π-π interactions between Cu₂SeNPs and dyes. For an adsorbent of 0.4 g/L of Cu₂SeNPs, the adsorption capacities of 23.1(MB), 22.9(RB) and 23.9(EY) mg/g were achieved, respectively, with an initial dye concentration of 10 mg/g(pH=8 for MB and pH=4 for RB and EY) and a contact time of 120 min. The removal rate of MB was still 70.4% for Cu₂SeNPs being reused in the 5th cycle. Furthermore, the recycled Cu₂SeNPs produced from selenium nanoparticles adsorbing copper were also an effective adsorbent for the removal of dyes. Cu₂SeNPs showed great potential as a new adsorbent for dyes removal due to its good stability, functionalization and reusability.     

Facile synthesis of mesoporous magnesium oxide–graphene oxide composite for efficient and highly selective adsorption of hazardous anionic dyes

Mesoporous magnesium oxide–graphene oxide composite (MGC) has been synthesized using a facile post-immobilization method by mixing pre-synthesized magnesium oxide (MgO) with graphene oxide (GO). MgO used for fabrication of the composite has been synthesized using an environment-friendly method involving gelatin as a template. XRD, Raman and EDX analyses have confirmed the presence of MgO and GO in the composite. FTIR and SEM analyses of synthesized MGC have further elucidated the surface functionalities and morphology, respectively. Using N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm, BET surface area of MGC has been calculated to be 55.9 m² g^?1 and BJH analysis confirmed the mesoporous nature of MGC. The application of synthesized MGC as a selective adsorbent for various toxic anionic dyes has been explored. Batch adsorption studies have been carried out to investigate the influence of different adsorption parameters on the adsorption of two anionic dyes: indigo carmine (IC) and orange G (OG). The maximum adsorption capacities exhibited by MGC for IC and OG are 252.4 and 24.5 mg g^?1, respectively. Plausible mechanism of dye adsorption has been explained in detail using FTIR analysis. In a mixture of cationic and anionic dyes, MGC selectively adsorbs anionic dyes with high separation factors, while in binary mixtures of anionic dyes, both dyes are adsorbed efficiently. Thus, MGC has been shown to be a potential adsorbent for the selective removal of anionic dyes from wastewater.

     

Removal of Anionic Dyes from Aqueous Solution with Layered Cationic Aluminum Oxyhydroxide

It is highly desired yet challenged to find an adsorbent with low cost and excellent performance in the removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution. Here we reported that a layered cationic aluminum oxyhydroxide material hydrothermally synthesized from the low-cost source materials of AlCl₃∙6H₂O, CaO and H₂O, known as JU-111, can meet such criterion in removing methyl orange(MO) and Congo red(CR). JU-111 shows fast adsorption kinetics[especially for CR(15 s)] and high adsorption capacity(MO:>1000 mg/g; CR:>2900 mg/g), surpassing most of the reported adsorbents. Comprehensive characterizations of the adsorption process of MO and CR revealed that both adsorptions were achieved via the anion exchange process. The characteristics of extremely low cost and excellent performance render JU-111 great potential in the practical applications in the removal of anionic dyes.     

Quartzite an efficient adsorbent for the removal of anionic and cationic dyes from aqueous solutions

Quartzite obtained from local source was investigated for the removal of anionic dye congo red (CR) and cationic dye malachite green (MG) as an adsorbent from aqueous solution in batch experiment. The adsorption process was studied as a function of dye concentration, contact time, pH and temperature. Adsorption process was described well by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity remained 666.7 mg/g for CR dye and 348.125 mg/g for MG dye. Data was analyzed thermodynamically, ΔH⁰ and ΔG⁰ values proved that adsorption of CR and MG is an endothermic and spontaneous process. Adsorption data fitted best in the pseudo-first order kinetic model. The adsorption data proved that quartzite exhibits the best adsorption capacity and can be utilized for the removal of anionic and cationic dyes.     

Elimination of surfactants and small dyes from water with silica-supported dendritic amphiphiles

Silica-supported branched polyethylenimine(Sil@PEI) is a conventional adsorbent and shows a limited affinity to anionic surfactants and small dyes(K = 106?107 L/mol). If the PEI is alkylated with cetyl groups(C16), the K of the resulting adsorbents(Sil@PEI@C16-x, where x is the fraction of PEI units being alkylated) is significantly improved. Optimization shows that Sil@PEI@C16-0.15 can best reduce aqueous surfactants to a residue around 10?10 mol/L; while Sil@PEI@C16-0.6 can reduce even small aqueous dyes to a residue below 10?10 mol/L, nearly 105-fold lower than that by Sil@PEI. The adsorbents are well recyclable. It is believed that in the case of dyes, the dense cetyl shell can isolate the PEI from the bulky water and thus suppress the competitive binding by water; while in the case of surfactants, the semiclosed cetyl shell can simultaneously meet electrostatic complement and hydrophobic complement to the surfactants.     

The adsorption of dyes used in the textile industry on mesoporous materials

An adsorbent material made with a silica lamellar mesoporous material treated with chitosan has been proved to be useful to adsorb both anionic and cationic dyes used in the textile industry. The two tested dyes Tectilon Blue (anionic) and Rhodamine B (cationic) have different adsorption kinetics reflecting a complex mechanism of the phenomenon. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity and interaction strength of Tectilon Blue is higher than those of Rhodamine B. Tectilon Blue molecules are situated with the molecular plane perpendicular to the adsorbent surface, whilst that of the Rhodamine B molecule is flat and parallel to the surface. The differences may be attributed to the different regions of the adsorbent surface on which the dyes are adsorbed because of their different electric charge.     

Adsorption of sodium dodecylsulfate on modified carbon adsorbents

The adsorption of anionic surfactants on carbon adsorbents modified with water-soluble derivatives of natural polymers, cellulose and chitin, is considered with sodium dodecylsulfate taken as an example. It is shown that such modification leads to changes in the adsorption structural characteristics and the particle size distribution of carbon-water suspensions of the original adsorbent, and to the emergence of new functional groups on its surface that are able to interact selectively with adsorbate molecules. It is assumed that adsorption of anionic surfactant on carbon adsorbents under equilibrium conditions proceeds via stepwise filling of the carbon??s porous structure: we first observe volume filling of micropores according to their sizes, and then the formation of a surfactant??s monolayer in mesopores and on the outer surface of the adsorbate. It is established by thermal analysis that the thermal stability of carbon adsorbents is enhanced through the preferential localization of anionic surfactants in micropores. The filling of mesopores and the outer carbon surface by surfactant molecules leads to a regular decrease in thermal stability and an increase in the adsorbent surface??s hydrophilicity.     

Porous multicomponent chitosan/poly(ε-caprolactone)-block poly (ethylene glycol)/SiO2 aerogel@polydopamine membrane for Congo red adsorption

A composite adsorbent, chitosan//poly (ε-caprolactone)-block poly (ethylene glycol)/SiO₂ aerogel@polydopamine (CS/PCL-b-PEG/SA@PDA) membrane was prepared for the adsorption of organic dyes. The matrix polymer materials of this novel adsorbent were eco-friendly. SiO₂ aerogel with nanoporous network construction was fixed in the multicomponent polymer fibers through simultaneous electrospinning-electrospray technology followed by modification of polydopamine (PDA). The composite adsorbent had a maximum adsorption capacity of 598.8 mg/g for Congo red (CR) and possessed good reusability performance. This adsorbent showed excellent performance for the selective adsorption of relatively large molecule CR dyes even under high concentration of small molecule methyl orange (MO) dyes or 1 M of salt solution. The adsorption mechanism indicated that the –NH₂ and –OH groups in adsorbent could generate the stronger electrostatic attraction with the –SO₃^- groups in CR. Meanwhile, the sufficient adsorption spaces of the adsorbent were constructed by the porous network structure of SiO₂ aerogel, the accumulation of PDA particles and the porous structure of the multicomponent composite membrane. The work provided a proactive study in designing an adsorbent for the selective adsorption of organic dyes.     

Diffusion into and adsorption of polyethylenimine on porous silica gel

The polyethyleneimine (PEI)–water–silica gel absorption system was used as a model system to investigate the relationship between diffusion into the porous structure, adsorption rate, and molecular weight of the polymer. Three silica gels, Porasil A, B, and and C having a range of characteristic porosity were used as adsorbents. Adsorption of PEI on Porasil C, which has the majority of its pores much larger than the dimensions of the adsorbate molecule, increased initially with increased molecular weight but became nearly constant at higher molecular weight. Little increase in adsorption occurred for this silica gel with increased ionic strength or with increased pH between 9.5 and 10.8. In contrast, adsorption increased sharply with increased ionic strength and for the same pH range on Porasil A. Molecular weight dependence was reversed. Adsorption decreased with increased molecular weight on Porasil A. In this case, the molecular size of PEI investigated was the same as the majority of pore apertures in the adsorbent. Solution environments (i.e., pH and ionic strength) that decrease the size of the PEI molecule and its affinity for the anionic silica gel surface, thus enabling it to more readily diffuse into the smaller porous regions of the adsorbent, are the apparent causes of the very large adsorption increase. Electrostatic repulsion between PEI molecules do not appear greatly to affect adsorption. Similar adsorption behavior has been reported in the literature for the PEI–cellulosic fiber adsorption system. Maximum adsorption on Porasil A occurred at pH 10.8, the same maximum generally reported for adsorption of PEI on cellulosic fibers. In this case, the silica gel (Porasil A) was found to have a pore size distribution and specific surface area of the same magnitude as cellulosic fibers prepared in the expanded state.     

Solid Amine Adsorbent Prepared by Molecular Imprinting and Its Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Properties

A carbon dioxide imprinted solid amine adsorbent (IPEIA‐R) with polyethylenimine (PEI) as a skeleton was conveniently prepared by using glutaraldehyde to cross‐link carbon dioxide‐preadsorbed PEI. As confirmed by FTIR, FT‐Raman, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, CO₂ preadsorbed on PEI could occupy the reactive sites of amino groups and act as a template for imprinting in the cross‐linking process. The imino groups formed from the cross‐linking reaction between glutaraldehyde and PEI could be reduced by NaBH₄ to form CO₂‐adsorbable amino groups. The adsorption results indicated that CO₂ imprinting and reduction of imino groups by NaBH₄ endowed the adsorbent with a higher CO₂ adsorption capacity. Compared with PEI‐supported mesoporous adsorbents, the solid amine adsorbent with PEI as a skeleton can avoid serious pore blockage and CO₂ diffusion resistance, even with a high amine content. The solid amine adsorbent with PEI as a skeleton showed a remarkable CO₂ adsorption capacity (8.56 mmol g^?1) in the presence of water at 25 °C, owing to the high amine content and good swelling properties. It also showed promising regeneration performance and could maintain almost the same CO₂ adsorption capacity after 15 adsorption–desorption cycles.     

Husk of Agarwood Fruit-Based Hydrogel Beads for Adsorption of Cationic and Anionic Dyes in Aqueous Solutions

Hydrogel beads based on the husk of agarwood fruit (HAF)/sodium alginate (SA), and based on the HAF/chitosan (CS) were developed for the removal of the dyes, crystal violet (CV) and reactive blue 4 (RB4), in aqueous solutions, respectively. The effects of the initial pH (2–10) of the dye solution, the adsorbent dosage (0.5–3.5 g/L), and contact time (0–540 min) were investigated in a batch system. The dynamic adsorption behavior of CV and RB4 can be represented well by the pseudo-second-order model and pseudo-first-order model, respectively. In addition, the adsorption isotherm data can be explained by the Langmuir isotherm model. Both hydrogel beads have acceptable adsorption selectivity and reusability for the study of selective adsorption and regeneration. Based on the effectiveness, selectivity, and reusability of these hydrogel beads, they can be treated as potential adsorbents for the removal of dyes in aqueous solutions.     

Electrokinetic effect and surface free energy behavior in the adsorption process of a reactive dye onto Leacril pretreated with polyethyleneimine ion

In a previous paper, we studied the adsorption of a polyelectrolyte, polyethyleneimine ion (PEI), onto Leacril in order to increase the amount of the reactive dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) taken up by these fibers. We observed that this polycation changes the fibers zeta potential sign at low concentration, ca. 0.03 g/L, and thus the RBBR adsorption onto Leacril is improved when implementing the PEI treatment. The aim of this work is to study the PEI effect related to the amount of dye adsorbed by Leacril. For this purpose, we present data on streaming potential, adsorption isotherms, and surface free energy component determination as a function of the PEI concentration used in the pretreatment, as well as a function of the RBBR concentration used in the dyeing solutions. Adsorption experimental results show that the amount of RBBR taken by the fibers increases with the PEI concentration used in the pretreatment, and this effect becomes significant at higher concentrations of RBBR solution. The zeta potential increases to positive values in the range of low concentrations of dye solution when Leacril fibers have been pretreated with the polyelectrolyte. From surface free energy component determinations it is worth noting that the electron-donor component, gamma(-), decreases with the RBBR concentration in the treatment. The results we have obtained suggest that the interaction between the amine group of the PEI previously adsorbed and the reactive beta-sulfato-ethysulfonyl group of the dye can be responsible for the improvement in dye uptake.     

Fundamental characteristics of synthetic adsorbents intended for industrial chromatographic separations

With the aim of obtaining comprehensive information on the selection of synthetic adsorbents for industrial applications, effect of pore and chemical structure of industrial-grade synthetic adsorbents on adsorption capacity of several pharmaceutical compounds was investigated. For relatively low molecular mass compounds, such as cephalexin, berberine chloride and tetracycline hydrochloride, surface area per unit volume of polystyrenic adsorbents dominated the equilibrium adsorption capacity. On the contrary, effect of pore size of the polystyrenic adsorbents on the equilibrium adsorption capacity was observed for relatively high molecular mass compounds, such as rifampicin, Vitamin B12 and insulin. Polystyrenic adsorbent with high surface area and small pore size showed small adsorption capacity for relatively high molecular mass compounds, whereas polystyrenic adsorbent with relatively small surface area but with large pore size showed large adsorption capacity. Effect of chemical structure on the equilibrium adsorption capacity of several pharmaceutical compounds was also studied among polystyrenic, modified polystyrenic and polymethacrylic adsorbents. The modified polystyrenic adsorbent showed larger adsorption capacity for all compounds tested in this study due to enhanced hydrophobicity. The polymethacrylic adsorbent possessed high adsorption capacity for rifampicin and insulin, but it showed lower adsorption capacity for the other compounds studied. This result may be attributed to hydrogen bonding playing major role for the adsorption of compounds on polymethacrylic adsorbent. Furthermore, column adsorption experiments were operated to estimate the effect of pore characteristics of the polystyrenic adsorbents on dynamic adsorption behavior, and it is found that both surface area and pore size of the polystyrenic adsorbents significantly affect the dynamic adsorption capacity as well as flow rate.     

Optimized adsorption and effective disposal of Congo red dye from wastewater: Hydrothermal fabrication of MgAl-LDH nanohydrotalcite-like materials

The effectiveness of Congo red (CR) adsorption from aqueous solutions onto MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) nanosorbents was examined in this study. MgAl-LDH was synthesized using the hydrothermal method, and physicochemical characterization was performed via powdered X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, and zeta potential measurements. For optimum adsorption of CR onto the synthesized MgAl-LDH nanosorbent, the adsorption process was employed in batch experiments. Adsorption parameters, such as the adsorbent dosage, solution pH, contact time, and initial adsorbate concentration, vary with the adsorption kinetics and isotherm mechanism. The results of the batch experiments indicated rapid adsorption of CR dye from aqueous solutions onto MgAl-LDH during the first 30 min until equilibrium was achieved at 180 min with a dye concentration of 50 mg/100 mL and MgAl-LDH adsorbent dosage of 0.05 g. The experimental adsorption data fit adequately with the monolayer coverage under the Langmuir isotherm model (R² = 0.9792), and showed the best fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.996). The change in zeta potential confirmed the effective adsorption interaction between the positively charged MgAl-LDH and the negatively charged CR molecules with electrostatic interactions. This work is distinguished by the successful hydrothermal preparation of MgAl-LDH in the form of homogenous nanoscale particles (～100 nm). The prepared MgAl-LDH showed a high adsorption capacity toward anionic CR dye with a maximum adsorption capacity of 769.23 mg/g. This capacity is higher than those reported for other adsorbents in previous research.     

Treatment of anionic dye aqueous solution using Ti,HDTMA and Al/Fe pillared bentonite. Essay to regenerate the adsorbent

In this study, the adsorption removal of an anionic dye (Congo red) by a local bentonite before and after modification was studied. The modification of the bentonite was made by organophilisation using surfactant (HDTMA) and by pillaring process to obtain a bentonite with Ti pillars and with mixed pillars of Fe/Al. The various synthesized materials are characterized by different techniques such as DRX, MET, N₂ adsorption-desorption, Zeta potential measurement. Results show the development of the texture and the structure of the bentonite after modification. The various adsorbents synthesized show an increase in the adsorption capacity of Congo Red compared to the initial bentonite. Adsorption isotherms are described by the Langmuir model in all cases except that for Ti pillared bentonite, the Freundlich model is more suitable. Pseudo-second order is better for describing the adsorption process. Also, regeneration of the adsorbent is approached in this study by photochemical way and the results show a total regeneration of the adsorbent.     

CO2 capture by polyethylenimine-modified fibrous adsorbent

This work focuses on developing a novel adsorbent for CO2 capture, by coating polyethylenimine (PEI) on glass fiber matrix and using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as cross-linking agent. The physicochemical properties of the fibrous adsorbent were characterized. The CO2 adsorption capacity was evaluated. Factors that affect the adsorption capacity of the fibrous adsorbent were studied. The experimental results show that this fibrous PEI adsorbent exhibits a much higher adsorption capacity for CO2 compared with another PEI fiber prepared in our previous work, which employed epoxy resin as the cross-linking agent. A CO2 adsorption capacity as high as 4.12 mmol CO2/g of adsorbent was obtained for this fibrous PEI adsorbent at 30 degrees C, equal to 13.56 mmol CO2/g of PEI, with a PEI/ECH ratio of 20:1. The adsorbent can be completely regenerated at 120 degrees C.