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Polymers
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Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry
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Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 66301

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vinod V.T. Padil

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CXI), Technical University of Liberec (TUL), Studentská 1402/2, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic
Interests: tree gum polymers; nanoparticles; electrospinning; bioremediation; bioplastics; green synthesis; environmental chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials have been surveyed for food, pharmaceutical, medical, and industrial sectors. However, the development of polymeric materials, in both synthetic and natural forms with gauging stability, high mechanical and thermal properties, electrospinning characteristics, and sustainability, etc., are expected to play crucial roles in many important areas of research. The broader scientific community will be the beneficiary of the newer knowledge-based information about electrospun polymeric fibers, development of sponges via self-assembly of polymers, films formation, etc., and the application of these functionalized polymers in many diverse fields with properties and surface morphology, high mechanical attributes, etc., and will be the main highlights.

The current Special Issue has the potential of strongly influencing the emerging and burgeoning fields of polymeric materials from natural or synthetic sources and their diverse applications in the environmental field. The latest advancements of polymeric materials in the form of composites, fibers, sponges, films, etc. and their applications such as environmental bioremediation, water purification, anti-microbial, biosensor, catalytic, and tissue engineering to the present challenges will be highlighted with future possibilities in this current Special Issue.

This Special Issue emphasizes the current importance of polymeric materials in an ever-expanding field. Also highlighted are the implications for the wider scientific community; the appeal to a larger audience (in the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and environmental science, as well as in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and nanotechnological arenas).

Dr. Vinod V.T. Padil
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

  • Synthetic polymers
  • natural polymers
  • polymeric composites
  • electrospun fibers
  • sponges and films
  • hydrogel
  • polymeric sensors
  • polymeric nanoparticles
  • water and wastewater treatments
  • polymer catalysis

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2574 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Natural Additives on the Composting Properties of Aliphatic Polyesters
by Malgorzata Latos-Brozio and Anna Masek
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1856; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12091856 - 19 Aug 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2668
Abstract
Compounds of plant origin are used with polymers as functional additives. However, these substances often have biological (antimicrobial) activity. The bactericidal and fungicidal properties of natural additives can affect the composting process of biodegradable polymers. The scientific novelty of the manuscript is the [...] Read more.
Compounds of plant origin are used with polymers as functional additives. However, these substances often have biological (antimicrobial) activity. The bactericidal and fungicidal properties of natural additives can affect the composting process of biodegradable polymers. The scientific novelty of the manuscript is the investigation of the effect of the addition of herbal antimicrobial functional substances on the composting process of green polymers. The aim of the study is to analyze composting processes of biodegradable polymers polylactide (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing β-carotene, juglone, morin, and curcumin. As part of the research, six-month composting of materials was performed. At time intervals of one month, the weight loss of samples, surface energy, colour change, mechanical properties, and carbonyl indices (based on FTIR spectroscopy) of composted materials were examined. The research results showed that the addition of selected plant substances slightly slowed down the process of polymer composting. Slower degradation of samples with plant additives was confirmed by the results of mechanical strength tests and the analysis of changes in carbonyl index (CI). The CI analysis showed that PLA and PHA containing a natural additive degrade a month later than reference samples. However, PLA and PHA polyesters with β-carotene, juglone, morin, and curcumin were still very biodegradable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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14 pages, 1946 KiB  
Article
Wastewater Treatment by a Polymeric Bioflocculant and Iron Nanoparticles Synthesized from a Bioflocculant
by Nkosinathi Goodman Dlamini, Albertus Kotze Basson and Rajasekhar VSR Pullabhotla
Polymers 2020, 12(7), 1618; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12071618 - 21 Jul 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3092
Abstract
Wastewater remains a global challenge. Various methods have been used in wastewater treatment, including flocculation. The aim of this study was to synthesize iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) using a polymeric bioflocculant and to evaluate its efficacy in the removal of pollutants in wastewater. A [...] Read more.
Wastewater remains a global challenge. Various methods have been used in wastewater treatment, including flocculation. The aim of this study was to synthesize iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) using a polymeric bioflocculant and to evaluate its efficacy in the removal of pollutants in wastewater. A comparison between the efficiencies of the bioflocculant and iron nanoparticles was investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the material. SEM-EDX analysis revealed the presence of elements such as O and C that were abundant in both samples, while FT-IR studies showed the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl (–OH) and amine (–NH2). Fe nanoparticles showed the best flocculation activity (FA) at 0.4 mg/mL dosage as opposed to that of the bioflocculant, which displayed the highest flocculation activity at 0.8 mg/mL, and both samples were found to be cation-dependent. When evaluated for heat stability and pH stability, FeNPs were found thermostable with 86% FA at 100 °C, while an alkaline pH of 11 favored FA with 93%. The bioflocculant flocculated poorly at high temperature and was found effective mostly at a pH of 7 with over 90% FA. FeNPs effectively removed BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) in all two wastewater samples from coal mine water and Mzingazi River water. Cytotoxicity results showed both FeNPs and the bioflocculant as nontoxic at concentrations up to 50 µL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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14 pages, 2783 KiB  
Article
Development of ZnO Nanoflake Type Structures Using Silk Fibres as Template for Water Pollutants Remediation
by K. Jagajjanani Rao, Tarangini Korumilli, Akshaykumar KP, Stanisław Wacławek, Miroslav Černík and Vinod V. T. Padil
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1151; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051151 - 18 May 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2546
Abstract
We have fabricated ZnO nanoflake structures using degummed silk fibers as templates, via soaking and calcining the silk fibers bearing ZnO nanoparticles at 150 °C for 6 h. The obtained ZnO nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), [...] Read more.
We have fabricated ZnO nanoflake structures using degummed silk fibers as templates, via soaking and calcining the silk fibers bearing ZnO nanoparticles at 150 °C for 6 h. The obtained ZnO nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis. The size (~500–700 nm) in length and thicknesses (~60 nm) of ZnO nanoflakes were produced. The catalysis performances of ZnO nanoflakes on silk fibers (ZnSk) via photo-degradation of naphthalene (93% in 256 min), as well as Rose Bengal dye removal (~1.7 mM g−1) through adsorption from aqueous solution, were practically observed. Further, ZnSk displayed superb antibacterial activity against the tested model gram-negative Escherichia coli bacterium. The produced ZnSk has huge scope to be used for real-world water contaminants remediation applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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13 pages, 2804 KiB  
Article
A Polymeric Composite Material (rGO/PANI) for Acid Blue 129 Adsorption
by Tomasz Kukulski, Stanisław Wacławek, Daniele Silvestri, Kamil Krawczyk, Vinod V. T. Padil, Ryszard Fryczkowski, Jarosław Janicki and Miroslav Černík
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12051051 - 03 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3023
Abstract
Over the years, polyaniline (PANI) has received enormous attention due to its unique properties. Herein, it was chosen to develop a new polymeric composite material: reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PANI). The composite was prepared by a simple and cost-effective fabrication method of formation by [...] Read more.
Over the years, polyaniline (PANI) has received enormous attention due to its unique properties. Herein, it was chosen to develop a new polymeric composite material: reduced graphene oxide/polyaniline (rGO/PANI). The composite was prepared by a simple and cost-effective fabrication method of formation by mixing and sonication in various conditions. The obtained materials were characterized and identified using various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and ATR–FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The objective of the paper was to confirm its applicability for the removal of contaminants from water. Water could be contaminated by various types of pollutants, e.g., inorganics, heavy metals, and many other industrial compounds, including dyes. We confirmed that the Acid Blue 129 dyes can be substantially removed through adsorption on prepared rGO/PANI. The adsorption kinetic data were modeled using the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models and the adsorption isotherm model was identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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19 pages, 4404 KiB  
Article
PET Fibers Modified with Cloisite Nanoclay
by Janusz Fabia, Andrzej Gawłowski, Monika Rom, Czesław Ślusarczyk, Anna Brzozowska-Stanuch and Marta Sieradzka
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 774; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12040774 - 01 Apr 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4735
Abstract
The alternative method of reducing the flammability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, analogous to dyeing of PET fibers with dispersed dyes in a high-temperature bath, was proposed. A commercial organophilic montmorillonite Cloisite®15A (C15A) was applied as a flame retardant. The aim [...] Read more.
The alternative method of reducing the flammability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers, analogous to dyeing of PET fibers with dispersed dyes in a high-temperature bath, was proposed. A commercial organophilic montmorillonite Cloisite®15A (C15A) was applied as a flame retardant. The aim of the presented work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduced modifier and the improvement of the flame-retardant properties of PET fibers by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) by spectrometric method (FTIR) during coupled thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was applied in order to confirm no increase in the toxicity of volatile degradation products released from burning modified fibers. The nanocomposite nature of modified fibers was confirmed based on the structural parameters of the fibers determined using wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) X-ray diffraction methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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19 pages, 3052 KiB  
Article
Acoustic, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Green Composites Reinforced with Natural Fibers Waste
by Tufail Hassan, Hafsa Jamshaid, Rajesh Mishra, Muhammad Qamar Khan, Michal Petru, Jan Novak, Rostislav Choteborsky and Monika Hromasova
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 654; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12030654 - 13 Mar 2020
Cited by 91 | Viewed by 7005
Abstract
The use of acoustic panels is one of the most important methods for sound insulation in buildings. Moreover, it has become increasingly important to use green/natural origin materials in this area to reduce environmental impact. This study focuses on the investigation of acoustic, [...] Read more.
The use of acoustic panels is one of the most important methods for sound insulation in buildings. Moreover, it has become increasingly important to use green/natural origin materials in this area to reduce environmental impact. This study focuses on the investigation of acoustic, mechanical and thermal properties of natural fiber waste reinforced green epoxy composites. Three different types of fiber wastes were used, e.g., cotton, coconut and sugarcane with epoxy as the resin. Different fiber volume fractions, i.e., 10%, 15% and 20% for each fiber were used with a composite thickness of 3 mm. The sound absorption coefficient, impact strength, flexural strength, thermal conductivity, diffusivity, coefficient of thermal expansion and thermogravimetric properties of all samples were investigated. It has been found that by increasing the fiber content, the sound absorption coefficient also increases. The coconut fiber-based composites show a higher sound absorption coefficient than in the other fiber-reinforced composites. The impact and flexural strength of the cotton fiber-reinforced composite samples are higher than in other samples. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the cotton fiber-based composite is also higher than the other composites. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that all the natural fiber-reinforced composites can sustain till 300 °C with a minor weight loss. The natural fiber-based composites can be used in building interiors, automotive body parts and household furniture. Such composite development is an ecofriendly approach to the acoustic world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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21 pages, 3227 KiB  
Article
Valorization of Chicken Feet By-Product of the Poultry Industry: High Qualities of Gelatin and Biofilm from Extraction of Collagen
by José C. C. Santana, Roberta B. Gardim, Poliana F. Almeida, Giovanna B. Borini, Ada P. B. Quispe, Segundo A. V. Llanos, Jorge A. Heredia, Stella Zamuner, Felix M. C. Gamarra, Thiago M. B. Farias, Linda L. Ho and Fernando T. Berssaneti
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 529; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12030529 - 02 Mar 2020
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8075
Abstract
In this research, products with high quality were obtained from natural sources. The sensorial qualities, chemical characterization, and physical properties of gelatin extracted from chicken feet were compared with commercial gelatins. The extraction process was performed using acetic acid on a concentration ranging [...] Read more.
In this research, products with high quality were obtained from natural sources. The sensorial qualities, chemical characterization, and physical properties of gelatin extracted from chicken feet were compared with commercial gelatins. The extraction process was performed using acetic acid on a concentration ranging from 0.318% to 3.682%, processing time between 1.0 h and 8.4 h and extraction temperature between 43.3 °C and 76.8 °C. After the end of each assay, the yield was measured. Results showed that, under the best conditions, the collagen extraction yield was above 8%, and comprised 78.525 g/100 g of protein. Collagen analyzed by ICP-MS was composed of 99.44% of macro-minerals that are of great importance to human health. ATR-FTIR analysis showed that approximately 70.90% of the total protein from chicken feet is collagen, whereas, in commercial gelatin, only 30.31% is collagen. When comparing chicken gelatin with commercial gelatin, most sensory attributes were similar and chicken gelatin gained acceptance by more than 80% of the consumers. Additionally, the collagen films obtained from chicken feet and swine showed water absorption, odors, and texture characteristics similar to commercial material, such as latex and celofane. Consequently, due to its similarity to human skin, it is possible to apply it as a biocurative. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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19 pages, 5602 KiB  
Article
Adsorptive Removal of Antibiotic Ciprofloxacin from Aqueous Solution Using Protein-Modified Nanosilica
by Tien Duc Pham, Thi Ngan Vu, Hai Long Nguyen, Pham Hai Phong Le and Thi Sim Hoang
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 57; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010057 - 01 Jan 2020
Cited by 53 | Viewed by 5737
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate adsorptive removal of molecular ciprofloxacin using protein-modified nanosilica (ProMNS). Protein was successfully extracted from Moringa seeds while nanosilica was synthesized from rice husk. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to [...] Read more.
The present study aims to investigate adsorptive removal of molecular ciprofloxacin using protein-modified nanosilica (ProMNS). Protein was successfully extracted from Moringa seeds while nanosilica was synthesized from rice husk. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to evaluate the characterization of protein. Adsorption of protein onto nanosilica at different pH and ionic strength was thoroughly studied to modify nanosilica surface. The removal efficiency of antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CFX) increased from 56.84% to 89.86% after surface modification with protein. Effective conditions for CFX removal using ProMNS were systematically optimized and found to be pH 7.0, adsorption time 90 min, adsorbent dosage 10 mg/mL, and ionic strength 1 mM KCl. A two-step model was successfully used to fit the adsorption isotherms of CFX onto ProMNS at different ionic strength while a pseudo-second-order model could fit adsorption kinetic of CFX onto ProMNS very well. Maximum adsorption capacity was very high that reached to 85 mg/g. Adsorption of CFX onto ProMNS decreased with increasing KCl concentration, suggesting that adsorption of CFX onto ProMNS is mainly controlled by electrostatic attraction between positively charged ProMNS surface and anionic species of CFX. Adsorption mechanisms of CFX onto ProMNS were discussed in detail based on adsorption isotherms, the change in surface charge by zeta potentail and the change in functional groups by FT-IR. The removal of CFX after three regenerations was greater than 73% while CFX removal from an actual hospital wastewater using ProMNS reached to 70%. Our results suggest that ProMNS is a new and eco-friendly adsorbent to remove antibiotics from aqueous solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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14 pages, 2703 KiB  
Article
The Use of a Biopolymer Conjugate for an Eco-Friendly One-Pot Synthesis of Palladium-Platinum Alloys
by Daniele Silvestri, Stanisław Wacławek, Rohith K. Ramakrishnan, Abhilash Venkateshaiah, Kamil Krawczyk, Vinod V. T. Padil, Bartłomiej Sobel and Miroslav Černík
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 1948; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11121948 - 27 Nov 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3485
Abstract
Raising health and environmental concerns over the nanoparticles synthesized from hazardous chemicals have urged researchers to focus on safer, environmentally friendlier and cheaper alternatives as well as prompted the development of green synthesis. Apart from many advantages, green synthesis is often not selective [...] Read more.
Raising health and environmental concerns over the nanoparticles synthesized from hazardous chemicals have urged researchers to focus on safer, environmentally friendlier and cheaper alternatives as well as prompted the development of green synthesis. Apart from many advantages, green synthesis is often not selective enough (among other issues) to create shape-specific nanoparticle structures. Herein, we have used a biopolymer conjugate and Pd and Pt precursors to prepare sustainable bimetallic nanoparticles with various morphology types. The nanoparticles were synthesized by a novel green approach using a bio-conjugate of chitosan and polyhydroxybutyrate (Cs-PHB). The bio-conjugate plays the simultaneous roles of a reducing and a capping agent, which was confirmed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analysis, proving the presence of a Cs-PHB layer on the surface of the prepared nanoparticles. The EDS profile also revealed the elemental structure of these nanoparticles and confirmed the formation of a Pd/Pt alloy. TEM morphological analysis showed the formation of star-like, octahedron or decahedron Pd/Pt nanoparticles, depending on the synthesis conditions. The bimetallic Pd/Pt nanoparticles synthesized with various Pd/Pt molar ratios were successfully applied for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by borohydride. The calculated κc values (ratio of kapp to the concentration of the catalyst) revealed that the decahedron nanoparticles (size of 15 ± 4 nm), synthesized at the molar ratio of 2:1 (Pd/Pt), temperature of 130 °C, 10 g/L of Cs-PHB conjugate and time of 30 min, exhibited excellent catalytic activity compared to other bimetallic nanoparticles reported in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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11 pages, 1018 KiB  
Article
High Efficiency Gas Permeability Membranes from Ethyl Cellulose Grafted with Ionic Liquids
by Jingyu Xu, Hongge Jia, Nan Yang, Qingji Wang, Guoxing Yang, Mingyu Zhang, Shuangping Xu, Yu Zang, Liqun Ma, Pengfei Jiang, Hailiang Zhou and Honghan Wang
Polymers 2019, 11(11), 1900; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11111900 - 18 Nov 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4661
Abstract
Ethyl cellulose was grafted with ionic liquids in optimal yields (62.5–64.1%) and grafting degrees (5.93–7.90%) by the esterification of the hydroxyl groups in ethyl cellulose with the carboxyl groups in ionic liquids. In IR spectra of the ethyl cellulose derivatives exhibited C=O bond [...] Read more.
Ethyl cellulose was grafted with ionic liquids in optimal yields (62.5–64.1%) and grafting degrees (5.93–7.90%) by the esterification of the hydroxyl groups in ethyl cellulose with the carboxyl groups in ionic liquids. In IR spectra of the ethyl cellulose derivatives exhibited C=O bond stretching vibration peaks at 1760 or 1740 cm−1, confirming the formation of the ester groups and furnishing the evidence of the successful grafting of ethyl cellulose with ionic liquids. The ethyl cellulose grafted with ionic liquids could be formed into membranes by using the casting solution method. The resulting membranes exhibited good membrane forming ability and mechanical properties. The EC grafted with ionic liquids-based membranes demonstrated PCO2/PCH4 separation factors of up to 18.8, whereas the PCO2/PCH4 separation factor of 9.0 was obtained for pure EC membrane (both for CO2/CH4 mixture gas). The membranes also demonstrated an excellent gas permeability coefficient PCO2, up to 199 Barrer, which was higher than pure EC (PCO2 = 46.8 Barrer). Therefore, it can be concluded that the ionic liquids with imidazole groups are immensely useful for improving the gas separation performances of EC membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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14 pages, 1900 KiB  
Article
Polyamide-Laccase Nanofiber Membrane for Degradation of Endocrine-Disrupting Bisphenol A, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and Triclosan
by Milena Maryskova, Miroslava Rysova, Vit Novotny and Alena Sevcu
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1560; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym11101560 - 25 Sep 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3474
Abstract
Contamination of potable water by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a growing problem worldwide. One of the possible treatments is the utilization of laccase enzyme catalyzing oxidation of phenolic structures of EDC when anchored in a polymeric nanofiber membrane. Previous studies failed to [...] Read more.
Contamination of potable water by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a growing problem worldwide. One of the possible treatments is the utilization of laccase enzyme catalyzing oxidation of phenolic structures of EDC when anchored in a polymeric nanofiber membrane. Previous studies failed to develop a membrane with a sufficiently active enzyme, or the immobilization process was too complicated and time-consuming. Here, we established an elegant method for immobilizing Trametes versicolor laccase onto polyamide 6 nanofibers (PA6-laccase) via adsorption and glutaraldehyde crosslinking, promoting high enzyme activity and easier applicability in water treatment technology. This simple and inexpensive immobilization ensures both repeated use, with over 88% of initial activity retained after five ABTS catalytic cycles, and enhanced storage stability. PA6-laccase was highly effective in degrading a 50-µM EDC mixture, with only 7% of bisphenol A, 2% of 17α-ethinylestradiol, and 30% of triclosan remaining after a 24-h catalytic process. The PA6-laccase membrane can lead to the improvement of novel technologies for controlling of EDC contamination in potable water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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34 pages, 9037 KiB  
Review
Microscopic Techniques for the Analysis of Micro and Nanostructures of Biopolymers and Their Derivatives
by Abhilash Venkateshaiah, Vinod V.T. Padil, Malladi Nagalakshmaiah, Stanisław Waclawek, Miroslav Černík and Rajender S. Varma
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 512; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12030512 - 27 Feb 2020
Cited by 59 | Viewed by 11442
Abstract
Natural biopolymers, a class of materials extracted from renewable sources, is garnering interest due to growing concerns over environmental safety; biopolymers have the advantage of biocompatibility and biodegradability, an imperative requirement. The synthesis of nanoparticles and nanofibers from biopolymers provides a green platform [...] Read more.
Natural biopolymers, a class of materials extracted from renewable sources, is garnering interest due to growing concerns over environmental safety; biopolymers have the advantage of biocompatibility and biodegradability, an imperative requirement. The synthesis of nanoparticles and nanofibers from biopolymers provides a green platform relative to the conventional methods that use hazardous chemicals. However, it is challenging to characterize these nanoparticles and fibers due to the variation in size, shape, and morphology. In order to evaluate these properties, microscopic techniques such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are essential. With the advent of new biopolymer systems, it is necessary to obtain insights into the fundamental structures of these systems to determine their structural, physical, and morphological properties, which play a vital role in defining their performance and applications. Microscopic techniques perform a decisive role in revealing intricate details, which assists in the appraisal of microstructure, surface morphology, chemical composition, and interfacial properties. This review highlights the significance of various microscopic techniques incorporating the literature details that help characterize biopolymers and their derivatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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13 pages, 3311 KiB  
Review
Electrospun Environment Remediation Nanofibers Using Unspinnable Liquids as the Sheath Fluids: A Review
by Menglong Wang, Ke Wang, Yaoyao Yang, Yanan Liu and Deng-Guang Yu
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 103; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12010103 - 04 Jan 2020
Cited by 68 | Viewed by 5113
Abstract
Electrospinning, as a promising platform in multidisciplinary engineering over the past two decades, has overcome major challenges and has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in a wide variety of fields such as energy, environmental, and pharmaceutics. However, as a facile and cost-effective approach, its capability [...] Read more.
Electrospinning, as a promising platform in multidisciplinary engineering over the past two decades, has overcome major challenges and has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in a wide variety of fields such as energy, environmental, and pharmaceutics. However, as a facile and cost-effective approach, its capability of creating nanofibers is still strongly limited by the numbers of treatable fluids. Most recently, more and more efforts have been spent on the treatments of liquids without electrospinnability using multifluid working processes. These unspinnable liquids, although have no electrospinnability themselves, can be converted into nanofibers when they are electrospun with an electrospinnable fluid. Among all sorts of multifluid electrospinning methods, coaxial electrospinning is the most fundamental one. In this review, the principle of modified coaxial electrospinning, in which unspinnable liquids are explored as the sheath working fluids, is introduced. Meanwhile, several typical examples are summarized, in which electrospun nanofibers aimed for the environment remediation were prepared using the modified coaxial electrospinning. Based on the exploration of unspinnable liquids, the present review opens a way for generating complex functional nanostructures from other kinds of multifluid electrospinning methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Environmental Chemistry)
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