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Polymers
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Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II
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Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 16425

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Laura Bulgariu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Cristofor Simionescu Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
Interests: environmental pollution; environmental bioremediation; heavy metals pollutants; biosorption/adsorption; batch and continuous systems; low-cost biosorbents/adsorbents; wastewater treatment; waste recycling; valorization of exhausted biosorbents/adsorbents; ecological fertilizers for soils
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will discuss new uses of polymer-based materials as ecological adsorbents for the removal of inorganic and organic pollutants from the environment, both at the laboratory scale and industrial scale. New technologies for the removal of inorganic or organic pollutants from the environment, which are ecological and respect the principles of sustainable development, are preferred. Authors can submit their work related to the main aspects of polymer-based material use as adsorbents for the removal of inorganic and organic pollutants from the environment, namely, synthesis and characterization of polymer-based adsorbents, methods and procedures of inorganic and organic pollutants from the environment (wastewater; contaminated soils; polluted air), valorisation possibilities of exhausted polymer-based adsorbents, etc. Submissions related to recycling, environmental impacts, and policies of polymer-based material valorisation in the context of the circular economy are also encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Laura Bulgariu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Polymer-based materials
  • Ecological adsorbents
  • Environmental protection
  • Pollutants removal
  • Wastewater treatments
  • Soils remediation
  • Treatment of polluted air
  • Recycling
  • Circular economy

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3715 KiB  
Article
In Situ Functionalization of Iron Oxide Particles with Alginate: A Promising Biosorbent for Retention of Metal Ions
by Alina-Roxana Lucaci, Dumitru Bulgariu and Laura Bulgariu
Polymers 2021, 13(20), 3554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13203554 - 15 Oct 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 1410
Abstract
In this study, alginate extracted from marine algae biomass was used for the functionalization of iron oxide particles obtained in situ. This procedure ensured a complete recovery of the alginate from the aqueous solution obtained after extraction and allowed the preparation of a [...] Read more.
In this study, alginate extracted from marine algae biomass was used for the functionalization of iron oxide particles obtained in situ. This procedure ensured a complete recovery of the alginate from the aqueous solution obtained after extraction and allowed the preparation of a new biosorbent. The obtained iron oxide microparticles functionalized with alginate (Alg-Fe3O4-MPs) were analyzed (FTIR spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy), and their biosorptive performance was tested for the removal of Cu(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) ions. The optimal conditions were established as pH = 5.4, adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, contact time of minimum 60 min and room temperature (23 ± 1 °C). The retention of metal ions was quantitative (99% for Cu(II), 89% for Co(II) and 95% for Zn(II)) when the concentration of metal ions was less than 0.80 mmol M(II)/L. The Langmuir model was found to be the best fitted model for the equilibrium data, while biosorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model. Biosorption processes were spontaneous (ΔG0 < 0), endothermic (ΔH0 > 0), and accompanied by an increase in entropy (ΔS0 > 0). The high maximum biosorption capacity of Alg-Fe3O4-MPs and its good regeneration highlight the potential of this biosorbent for applications in decontamination processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II)
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13 pages, 2883 KiB  
Article
Chemical Modification of Banana Trunk Fibers for the Production of Green Composites
by Kathiresan V. Sathasivam, Mas Rosemal Hakim Mas Haris, Shivkanya Fuloria, Neeraj Kumar Fuloria, Rishabha Malviya and Vetriselvan Subramaniyan
Polymers 2021, 13(12), 1943; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13121943 - 11 Jun 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2609
Abstract
Natural fibers have proven to be excellent reinforcing agents in composite materials. However, a critical disadvantage of natural fibers is their hydrophilic nature. In this study, banana trunk fibers were mechanically damaged using a high-speed blender, and the resulting fibers (MDBTF) were treated [...] Read more.
Natural fibers have proven to be excellent reinforcing agents in composite materials. However, a critical disadvantage of natural fibers is their hydrophilic nature. In this study, banana trunk fibers were mechanically damaged using a high-speed blender, and the resulting fibers (MDBTF) were treated with (i) stearic acid (SAMDBTF) and (ii) calcium carbonate coated with 5% (wt/wt) stearic acid (SACCMDBTF). The moisture sorption, oil sorption and thermal properties of the fibers were determined. The morphology, roughness and the functional groups present were also investigated. Study data of the present study indicate that SACCMDBTF exhibited a faster oil sorption capacity than SAMDBTF. Fast uptake of the oil occurred during the first 5 min, whereby the quantity of oil sorbed in SAMDBTF and SACCMDBTF was 5.5 and 15.0 g oil g−1 fiber, respectively. The results of a used engine oil uptake study revealed that SAMDBTF and SACCMDBTF sorbed 9.5 and 18.3 g/g-1 fiber, respectively, at equilibrium. The obtained results suggest that the mechanically damaged process improved the thermal stability of the fibers. This work reveals that the inclusion of stearic-acid-coated calcium carbonate into the interstices of MDBTF yields is environmentally safe for green hydrophobic composites. SACCMDBTF are used as efficient adsorbents for the removal of spilled oil on aqueous media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II)
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17 pages, 26405 KiB  
Article
Design and Evaluation of a New Natural Multi-Layered Biopolymeric Adsorbent System-Based Chitosan/Cellulosic Nonwoven Material for the Biosorption of Industrial Textile Effluents
by Yassine EL-Ghoul, Chiraz Ammar, Fahad M. Alminderej and Md. Shafiquzzaman
Polymers 2021, 13(3), 322; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13030322 - 20 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2189
Abstract
The adsorption phenomenon using low-cost adsorbents that are abundant in nature is of great interest when the adsorbed capacity is significant. A newly designed natural polyelectrolyte multi-layered (PEM) biopolymeric system-based chitosan/modified chitosan polymer and functionalized cellulosic nonwoven material was prepared and used as [...] Read more.
The adsorption phenomenon using low-cost adsorbents that are abundant in nature is of great interest when the adsorbed capacity is significant. A newly designed natural polyelectrolyte multi-layered (PEM) biopolymeric system-based chitosan/modified chitosan polymer and functionalized cellulosic nonwoven material was prepared and used as an effective adsorbent for Reactive Red 198 (RR198) dye solutions. The bio-sorbent was characterized by FTIR, SEM, and thermal (TGA/DTA) analysis. The swelling behavior was also evaluated, showing the great increase of the hydrophilicity of the prepared adsorbent biopolymer. The effect of various process parameters on the performance of RR198 dye removal such as pH, contact time, temperature, and initial dye concentration was studied. The biopolymeric system has shown good efficiency of adsorption compared to other adsorbents based on chitosan polymer. The highest adsorption capacity was found to be 722.3 mgg−1 at pH = 4 (ambient temperature, time = 120 min and dye concentration = 600 mg L−1). The adsorption process fitted well to both pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich/Temkin adsorption isotherm models. Regarding its low cost, easy preparation, and promising efficient adsorption results, this new concepted multi-layered bio-sorbent could be an effective solution for the treatment of industrial wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II)
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14 pages, 1831 KiB  
Article
Adsorption Behavior of Polyelectrolyte onto Alumina and Application in Ciprofloxacin Removal
by Thi Huong Dao, Ngoc Trung Nguyen, Minh Ngoc Nguyen, Cao Long Ngo, Nhu Hai Luong, Duy Binh Le and Tien Duc Pham
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071554 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3208
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the adsorption behavior of a strong polyelectrolyte poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) onto alumina particles. Adsorption of PSS onto positively charged alumina surface increased with increasing ionic strength, indicating that non-electrostatic and electrostatic interaction controlled the adsorption. The removal of an [...] Read more.
This study aims to investigate the adsorption behavior of a strong polyelectrolyte poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) onto alumina particles. Adsorption of PSS onto positively charged alumina surface increased with increasing ionic strength, indicating that non-electrostatic and electrostatic interaction controlled the adsorption. The removal of an emerging antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CFX) from water environment using PSS-modified alumina (PMA) was also studied. The removal of CFX using PMA was much higher than that using alumina particles without PSS modification in all pH ranges of 2–11. The removal of CFX reached 98% under the optimum conditions of pH 6, contact time of 120 min, adsorbent dosage of five milligrams per milliliter and ionic strength 104-M NaCl. The adsorption isotherms of CFX at different salt concentrations fit well with a two-step adsorption model, while the adsorption kinetic fit well with a pseudo-second-order model with a good correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.9969). The CFX-removal from a hospital wastewater using PMA was more than 75%. Our study demonstrates that adsorption of PSS onto alumina to modify the particle surface is important to form a novel adsorbent PMA for CFX-removal from water environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II)
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Review

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23 pages, 9300 KiB  
Review
Polymeric Materials Used for Immobilisation of Bacteria for the Bioremediation of Contaminants in Water
by Dmitriy Berillo, Areej Al-Jwaid and Jonathan Caplin
Polymers 2021, 13(7), 1073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13071073 - 29 Mar 2021
Cited by 54 | Viewed by 6019
Abstract
Bioremediation is a key process for reclaiming polluted soil and water by the use of biological agents. A commonly used approach aims to neutralise or remove harmful pollutants from contaminated areas using live microorganisms. Generally, immobilised microorganisms rather than planktonic cells have been [...] Read more.
Bioremediation is a key process for reclaiming polluted soil and water by the use of biological agents. A commonly used approach aims to neutralise or remove harmful pollutants from contaminated areas using live microorganisms. Generally, immobilised microorganisms rather than planktonic cells have been used in bioremediation methods. Activated carbon, inorganic minerals (clays, metal oxides, zeolites), and agricultural waste products are acceptable substrates for the immobilisation of bacteria, although there are limitations with biomass loading and the issue with leaching of bacteria during the process. Various synthetic and natural polymers with different functional groups have been used successfully for the efficient immobilisation of microorganisms and cells. Promise has been shown using macroporous materials including cryogels with entrapped bacteria or cells in applications for water treatment and biotechnology. A cryogel is a macroporous polymeric gel formed at sub-zero temperatures through a process known as cryogelation. Macroporous hydrogels have been used to make scaffolds or supports for immobilising bacterial, viral, and other cells. The production of composite materials with immobilised cells possessing suitable mechanical and chemical stability, porosity, elasticity, and biocompatibility suggests that these materials are potential candidates for a range of applications within applied microbiology, biotechnology, and research. This review evaluates applications of macroporous cryogels as tools for the bioremediation of contaminants in wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer-Based Materials as Ecological Adsorbents for Environmental Protection II)
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