Here, we demonstrate direct recovery of water from stable emulsion waste using aerogel membrane. Chitosan-based gel was transformed into highly porous aerogel membrane using bio-origin genipin as cross-linking agent. Aerogel membranes were characterized for their morphology using SEM, chemical composition by FTIR and solid-UV. Further, aerogel was tested for recovery of high quality water from oil spill sample collected from ship breaking yard. High quality (with >99% purity) water was recovered with a flux rate of >600 L·m(-2)·h(-1)·bar(-1). After repeated use, aerogel membranes were tested for greener disposal possibilities by biodegrading membrane in soil.

Here we demonstrate direct use of sulphate rich seaweed polysaccharides Carrageenans namely kappa (κ-), iota (ι-) and lambda (λ-) as source of sulfur and carbon doping in photocatalyst TiO2. During TiO2 synthesis in presence of sulphate rich carrageenan leaves mainly residual carbon and sulfur doping resulted in highly active photocatalyst. Evaluation of dye degradation pattern shows rapid degradation of Reactive Black-5, Methylene Blue & Methyl Orange dyes using modified TiO2 nanocomposites in different light sources. Robust dye degradation was achieved between 1-4 h under daylight. Whereas, use of solar concentrator reduced the degradation time of MB and RB-5 to <5 min and MO solution was turned colorless within 20 min. Present study elaborates effect of seaweed carrageenans in inducing heteroatom like sulfur and residual carbon on photodegradation of industrially important dyes.

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