pH-sensitive cellulose/chitin nanofibrillar hydrogel for dye pollutant removal

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2023-10, Vol.317, p.121090-121090, Article 121090
• Main Authors: Jung, Seungoh, Kim, Jungkyu, Bang, Junsik, Jung, Minjung, Park, Sangwoo, Yun, Heecheol, Kwak, Hyo Won
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; cellulose; Cellulose nanofiber; chitin; Chitin nanofiber; citric acid; cross-linking reagents; desorption; Dye removal; dyes; electrolytes; Hydrogel; hydrogels; nanofibers; pH-sensitivity; pollution control; wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121090

In this study, a pH-sensitive smart hydrogel was successfully prepared by combining a polyelectrolyte complex using biopolymeric nanofibrils. By adding a green citric acid cross-linking agent to the formed chitin and cellulose-derived nanofibrillar polyelectrolytic complex, a hydrogel with excellent structural stability could be prepared even in a water environment, and all processes were conducted in an aqueous system. The prepared biopolymeric nanofibrillar hydrogel not only enables rapid conversion of swelling degree and surface charge according to pH but can also effectively remove ionic contaminants. The ionic dye removal capacity was 372.0 mg/g for anionic AO and 140.5 mg/g for cationic MB. The surface charge conversion ability according to pH could be easily applied to the desorption of the removed contaminants, and as a result, it showed an excellent contaminant removal efficiency of 95.1 % or more even in the repeated reuse process 5 times. Overall, the eco-friendly biopolymeric nanofibrillar pH-sensitive hydrogel shows potential for complex wastewater treatment and long-term use. [Display omitted] •Fabrication of pH-sensitive biopolymeric nanofibrillar hydrogel as effective dye removal adsorbent.•Citric acid was used as a green crosslinker to the fabrication of the hydrogel and for its structural stability.•Electrostatic attraction between hydrogel and dye molecules is the main dye removal mechanism.•The desorption process was possible only with a simple pH change.•Hydrogel showed excellent reusability with over 95 % of adsorption capacity after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles.