From Water for Water: PEDOT:PSS-Chitosan Beads for Sustainable Dyes Adsorption

Year: 2024

Authors: Vassalini I., Maddaloni M., Depedro M., De Villi A., Ferroni M., Alessandri I.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Brescia, Dept Informat Engn, Sustainable Chem & Mat Lab, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; Consorzio Interuniv Nazl Sci & Tecnol Mat INSTM, Res Unit Brescia, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; CNR, INO, Res Unit Brescia, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; Univ Brescia, Dept Mech & Ind Engn, Chem Technol Lab, Via Branze 38, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; Univ Brescia, Dept Civil Environm Architectural Engn & Math, Via Branze 43, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; CNR, IMM Bologna, Via Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy.

Abstract: This study investigates the viability of developing chitosan-based hydrogels derived from waste shrimp shells for the removal of methylene blue and methyl orange, thereby transforming food waste into advanced materials for environmental remediation. Despite chitosan-based adsorbents being conventionally considered ideal for the removal of negative pollutants, through targeted functionalization with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) at varying concentrations, we successfully enhance the hydrogels’ efficacy in also adsorbing positively charged adsorbates. Specifically, the incorporation of PEDOT:PSS at a concentration of 10% v/v emerges as a critical factor in facilitating the robust adsorption of dyes. In the case of the anionic dye methyl orange (MO, 10-5 M), the percentage of removed dye passed from 47% (for beads made of only chitosan) to 66% (for beads made of chitosan-PEDOT:PSS 10%), while, in the case of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB, 10-5 M), the percentage of removed dye passed from 52 to 100%. At the basis of this enhancement, there is an adsorption mechanism resulting from the interplay between electrostatic forces and pi-pi interactions. Furthermore, the synthesized functionalized hydrogels exhibit remarkable stability and reusability (at least five consecutive cycles) in the case of MB, paving the way for the development of cost-effective and sustainable adsorbents. This study highlights the potential of repurposing waste materials for environmental benefits, introducing an innovative approach to address the challenges regarding water pollution.

Journal/Review: GELS

Volume: 10 (1)      Pages from: 37-1  to: 37-16

KeyWords: chitosan; environmental remediation; hydrogels; water pollutants; dye removal; food-waste materials
DOI: 10.3390/gels10010037

Citations: 5
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-10-20
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