This paper deals with the preparation, characterization, and application of a crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)/ZnO-vitamin M (PVA/ZnO-VM) nanocomposite film for the removal of Congo red (CR) from an aqueous solution. The characterization of a crosslinked PVA/ZnO-VM nanocomposite film showed that the structure became more regular and also the surface morphology appeared smooth in comparison with pure PVA. The obtained data from Brunauer− Emmett−Teller (BET) proved the mesoporous structure for this nanocomposite film. Several effective factors were examined for the adsorption ability of the nanocomposite film, including solution pH (2−10), sorbent amount (0.02−0.08 g), contact time (3−240 min), initial concentration of the adsorbate (30−300 mg•L −1 ), and temperature (318−358 K). The optimal conditions are as follows: pH = 10, adsorbent amount = 0.06 g, and C 0 = 200 mg•L −1 . The removal efficiency of the nanocomposite film was 92% after 4 h at the ambient temperature. To interpret the adsorption process, nonlinear and linear forms of kinetic and isotherm models were considered. The obtained data followed nonlinear pseudo-second-order and linear Langmuir isotherm models, which indicated the monolayer formation of CR over the crosslinked PVA/ZnO-VM nanocomposite film with the maximum adsorption capacity of about 56.49 mg•g −1 . Also, the adsorption process of CR by the crosslinked PVA/ZnO-VM nanocomposite film is a spontaneous and exothermic reaction.
The packaging system is one of the most challenging researches, in which antibacterial agents were embedded. In this research activity, we used folic acid (FA), as a biosafe and biodegradable substance for the surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). Then, the ZnO-FA NPs as nanofillers were inserted in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with different weight percentages (2, 5, and 8 wt%, relative to polymer weight). The synthesized substances were characterized using various analyses like Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, water contact angle, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The image of transmission electron microscopy analysis displayed the excellent dispersal of the ZnO-FA NPs within the polymeric matrix. By increasing the percentage of the modified ZnO NPs into the PVA, the intensity of the absorption peaks in the UV-Vis spectra was raised, and the thermal stability of NC films got better compared to the pure polymer. PVA/ZnO-FA NC film 8 wt% showed better antibacterial activity than the pure PVA and had the best resistance against Grampositive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus).
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